A bridge job is a temporary position that you might take at the end of a full-time career or in transition to a different one. The term most often applies to people who leave career employment but take on a part-time role before full retirement. It is also used in reference to career employees who leave traditional employment to become entrepreneurs, taking a temporary job while building their business.

Pros and Cons

For people preparing for retirement, a bridge job can ease the transition. Some people struggle going from a 40-hour work week to no job at all. For aspiring entrepreneurs, a bridge job helps them gain skills and cover financial obligations while the business evolves. The down side is that bridge jobs often pay less than what you make in a career position. In addition, if an entrepreneur's company doesn't take off, future employers may have concerns over the bridge in employment.