How to Become an Exec-for-Rent

If you're like most senior company loyalists, the word "temp" probably brings to mind certain corporate characters. The receptionist who's always updating his Facebook page. The coder who spends more time on job search algorithms than on optimizing your site. The contract manager who never gets that her suit looks odd in your laid-back culture. But in today's brutal job market, temporary is no longer the sole domain of secretaries and IT guys; it's both a thriving sub-industry for executives and a legitimate way to expand your skills. Whether you sign up with an agency or go for on your own, recruiters say your resume should emphasize that you've been successfully dropped into situations outside your area of expertise. Networking with bankers and lawyers, says Cynthia Jamison, national director for CFO services at Tatum, can also lead to tips on companies needing short-term help.