What Does It Mean When a Job Says Temporary? A temporary job is just that— temporary. A temp employee fills a short-term need, such as finishing a project, getting through a busy season, or covering a leave of absence. Because there is no long-term need for the work the temp is performing, the assignment will likely end without a job offer after the work is complete, business slows, or the absent employee returns. There is a chance a business will open a position for a truly outstanding employee, but don’t go in expecting an offer. Temporary assignments may be as short as a day or last for several months. They may have a clear end date or be a long-term temp where the employer is not sure how long they will need extra help. Because it is based on the staffing needs of the company, a temp assignment may end with little warning if a project is completed earlier than expected or there is a reduction in work. This differs from temp-to-hire positions, where the company has open positions, but want to make sure a prospective employee is a good fit before making a job offer. If everything goes well, the employer will likely extend a job offer at the end of the trial period. Check out redShift Recruiting if you're seeking temporary work! We are actively staffing temp-to-hire and temporary jobs with the area’s best employers!