You’re on the job market and you’re looking for a full-time, permanent position that can keep you engaged, cover your bills, and support the long-term growth of your career. You want the whole package, and you have no plans to accept any compromise on any of these terms. But here’s the problem: You’ve been looking for a long time. And with every week that passes, your resume gap is getting wider and your bank account is getting thinner. You want what you want…but while you search for your next permanent role, consider taking on a temporary job in the meantime. Here’s why.

A temporary job keeps you in circulation.

As you build your career, you rely on your personal network to help you find and access hidden opportunities. And a temporary job can expose you to a new workplace, new people, new points of view, new relationships and maybe even some valuable new professional friendships. It’s never a bad idea to shake up your social ecosystem.

A temporary job can build new skills.

When you thing “temporary job”, you might imaging filing or joining a typing pool—but these tasks aren’t so common anymore, and most temp jobs require a higher level of skill than you might imagine. Temporary employers also tend to offer on-the-job training, and it’s never too late to learn something new.

Close your resume gap.

If you’ve been on the market for more than six months or so, your interviewers and potential employers may ask what you’ve been doing this time. If you’ve been working—no matter where or how—then your resume can answer this question for you.

A temporary job can reduce your sense of urgency.

When you have a paycheck coming in—from anywhere—then you can keep the lights on and the mortgage paid, which is nice. But staying on top of things financially can have another benefit: it keeps you from feeling like you’re running out of time, which can push you to accept the wrong position or a lower salary offer than you’d like. Patience gives you leverage at the negotiating table, and nothing builds patience like a steady income.

A temporary job can keep you in the loop.

Most industries change fast, and even if your temporary job ends in a few weeks or months, your presence in the workplace can help you stay aware of what’s going on. And who knows—even a job that’s presented as a short-term gig might evolve into a long-term opportunity. Anything can happen, but you’re more likely to recognize and take advantage of available opportunities if you’re present and paying attention.

For more on how to find and land a temporary job that can help support your career, turn to the Charlotte staffing experts at PSU.