What is a floater job?

Employees that are considered floaters might be involved with a wide range of tasks, some common examples include:

• Filling in for an absent employee

• Assisting with a specific task or project (in different departments)

• Providing certain staff with additional support during busy seasons or times in general

Many floater jobs are contract positions or temporary roles, meaning that have a specific start and end date and are not jobs that are considered indefinite. The timelines for floater jobs vary but are often linked to a predetermined length or aligned with the specific needs of a company being met.

Floaters must be adaptable workers that can shift work environments and tasks seamlessly and quickly. They also often must have wide and varied skill sets to switch adequately between departments, roles, or specific tasks.

Communication is a key skill of floaters since they tend to work with various teams while on the job. Being able to deal with and excel in fast-paced and high-pressure work environments are also common assets of floaters in various industries. Some of the benefits of floater jobs include:

• Gaining exposure to a wide range of job duties, skills, and departments

• Building diverse and varied skill sets and professional abilities

• Obtaining a wealth of professional experience in a wide range of areas

• Using all of these features to create career advancement within a particular industry