New Temp Work: Gigwalk and TaskRabbit

Experienced administrative and clerical professionals no longer need to turn to agencies when they are in need of temporary work. Whether you are searching for a long-term temporary position or just need a few hours of work to make some extra money, the World Wide Web is a helpful tool. Dozens of sites offer temporary work to experienced personal assistants, secretaries, administrative assistants, and office managers. You can use these sites to supplement your income and make extra money for a large household expense or for a relaxing vacation.

Gigwalk advertises itself as a "mobile army" of workers who are willing to complete tasks ranging from taking photographs to testing product concepts. The company's technology finds the best worker for the advertised job, so business owners know that they are getting qualified workers. Administrative and clerical professionals who are looking for temporary work can use their skills and experience to perform many of the available tasks. If you are currently a real estate marketing assistant, you can use your knowledge to take high-quality photos of local businesses and neighborhoods. If some of your administrative experience is in the customer service field, you can also conduct service checks or perform mystery shopping tasks.

TaskRabbit is a good place to find temporary work if you have experience as a personal assistant. The company hires people in Boston, Austin, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Orange County, New York City, Chicago, Seattle, Portland, and San Antonio, so the availability of temporary work will depend on where you live. You must create an account and pass a background check before TaskRabbit will allow you to bid on tasks. Available tasks include grocery shopping, running errands, and long-term office assignments. Because you bid on the tasks that interest you, you do not have to worry about being assigned temporary work that you do not want to do.

Andrea Chang of the Los Angeles Times says this type of startup is catching on with consumers and business owners. She interviewed Dawn McCoy, a writer and actress, about the popularity of these services. McCoy said consumers feel that their peers are helping them, and they also like the fact that they do not have to be wealthy to hire someone to help them. Administrative professionals may not want to run errands or walk dogs, but they can look for temporary work related to their current skill set or enhance their resumes by picking up new skills.

If getting a temporary assignment through a staffing agency does not appeal to you, think about using one of these services to pick up extra work and supplement your income. Using these sites gives you an opportunity to make personal and professional connections that could come in handy for your administrative career. You also have the opportunity to try temporary work that could help you qualify for a promotion with your current employer.

(Photo courtesy of stockimages / freedigitalphotos.net)