5 Great Short-Term Jobs

2. Human resource manager

The nitty-gritty: As a company hires more employees, tasks such as recruiting, benefits administration, payroll and employee relations all become vital to building a top team. Someone who knows employment law and practices, as well recruiting and employee-screening techniques, can save a business time and prevent potential personnel issues.

Median pay: $47.68 per hour. A typical range is $30 to $100 per hour. The higher range is for specialized knowledge in areas such as compensation and technical recruiting.

Qualifications: Many professional associations offer certification programs. Although certification is usually optional, some employers prefer or require it. Check out the Society for Human Resources Management for educational offerings.

3. Office manager

The nitty-gritty: This position is generally at the core of a company. It can easily morph into a full-time post if you're looking for one. You're often a bookkeeper, office supply manager and a salesperson. You could find yourself recruiting new employees, handling employment paperwork, scheduling vacations and even running recycling programs.

Median pay: $37.45 per hour. For basic office and administrative management, pay can range between $20 to $30 per hour. For higher-level operations management, $50-plus per hour.

Qualifications: Nothing trumps prior experience in a similar high-paced job. A strong work background that demonstrates managerial chops and ease with juggling a variety of roles is what this position comes down to. The business owner wants to instantly feel that things are being turned over to a capable pro who can keep the trains running on time. The International Facility Management Association offers a competency-based professional certification program for administrative services managers that's worth exploring.

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