How to pick a temp job (if you’re looking for a permanent position):

Temporary forms of employment account for a variable but never trivial share of total employment in both the U.S. and in Europe. In this article we look at how one specific form of temporary employment − employment with fixed-term contracts − fits into employers’ hiring policies. We find that human capital variables (schooling, skills and employer-provided training) as measured at the levels of the worker and the workplace are important determinants of the employers’ decisions to hire with fixed-term contracts and to promote temporary workers to permanent positions. Those employers that hire more with fixed-term contracts are also those that are more likely to offer a permanent position to their newly-hired temporary employees. Our results indicate that fixed-term contracts are used as mechanisms for screening workers for permanent positions.

Source: “Why Do Firms Use Fixed-Term Contracts?” from IZA Discussion Paper No. 4380, August 2009

Here’s a classic about work. Related to the subject of improving work life is this book which I’m seeing the results of all around me. And I frequently recommend this book.

For being more productive I can’t recommend this book enough and you should also check out this system as a complement to it.

Related posts:

How to get a job

Does the way an office is decorated affect employee well-being and productivity?

How much does income affect job satisfaction? And how much does job satisfaction affect income?

Why you can’t work at work

Here’s why your boss is incompetent

Should you kiss ass at work if you’re not good at it?

Here is why companies should have unlimited vacation days

Do you work longer on rainy days?

Is this why we can do fun stuff for hours but work stresses us out?

How to make yourself more lucky

How to make yourself happier in just a few seconds

Everybody hates commuting. Why do we do it?

Do employee of the month contests actually accomplish anything?