Career Advice

5 signs you need a better contract job and how to land one with benefits at Fidelity TalentSource

Learn how to get a contract job at Fidelity with Fidelity TalentSource and discover the personal and career benefits of working in a temporary role.

April 14, 2025 8 minute read

Contract and temporary jobs can offer great exposure to a new industry, company, or career. Figuring out who to work with to get such a job might not have been so easy in the past, but it is now. Fidelity TalentSource can help you get a temporary or contract job at Fidelity with great benefits. While it’s never guaranteed, you may have the opportunity to go from contract to hire as a regular associate.

Before diving into our 5 signs, we'll provide a quick primer on why you should consider contract work if you haven't experienced it firsthand and introduce you to Fidelity TalentSource. Let's get to it.

Key takeaways

Fidelity TalentSource is Fidelity’s in-house team, recruiting for temporary roles and contract work in every department, from entry- to senior-level positions.
Fidelity TalentSource offers highly competitive pay rates and benefits to contractors without taking a commission.
Fidelity TalentSource associates do the same challenging and meaningful work as regular associates while being exposed to the same cutting-edge technology and systems.
Fidelity helps contract workers pursue the career path they want, whether that’s potentially converting to a regular position or finding new, flexible contract opportunities.

The pros of flexible contract and temporary work for anyone at any career stage

Plenty of American workers opt for something outside the typical 9-to-5 work situation. In fact, 38% of the U.S. workforce freelances while 7.4% are independent contractors. Clearly gig work isn’t a side hustle—it’s the main hustle for many American workers.

Contract work gives you freedom and flexibility. Whether you’re going to school, entering the workforce for the first time, or coming back into the workforce after an absence, contracting gives you a chance to test the waters at a new company, career, or industry. “Temporary work is a great opportunity to try something new in a safe environment,” says Brian, head of human resources for Fidelity TalentSource and head of TA Operations.

Maybe you want to work part-time to have better work/life balance, support your mental health, or care for loved ones. Maybe you prefer the novelty and diversity of project-based work if you’re always on the hunt for your next challenge. Maybe you’ve retired but feel like you need more of a challenge in your day-to-day life. Whatever your wants and needs, contracting may help you get where you want to go in your career.

Get to know Fidelity TalentSource, your gateway to flexible Fidelity temporary jobs and potential contract-to-hire opportunities

Fidelity TalentSource is Fidelity’s in-house resource for recruiting contract and temporary workers to help fill coverage gaps when associates go on extended leave or when Fidelity needs contract workers to support projects and business units. Some contractor positions are designed with the goal of converting that position to regular if the contractor’s performance and the team’s head count align. “A lot of opportunities come through Fidelity TalentSource. It can be another avenue for people to get their foot in the door and start their career at Fidelity,” says Sarah, Fidelity TalentSource senior talent acquisition partner.

Fidelity TalentSource hires for as many types of jobs and departments as Fidelity Investments offers. We fill roles in finance, technology, and professional services for all 12 of our regional locations. Whether you’re looking to provide customer service support or manage assets, build apps, get into cryptocurrency, or support legal and compliance, chances are there’s a contract position available at Fidelity TalentSource in your area of interest.

“It’s not only entry-level roles we hire for but senior-level positions as well,” says Sarah. “We have something for everybody.”

Sign #1: You feel removed from the contractor hiring/management process

“As Fidelity TalentSource recruiters, we have more power over the whole process,” says Shawn, Fidelity TalentSource talent acquisition partner. “We can give you more realistic timelines and get you feedback from the hiring manager. The overall line of communication is much more fluid.”

In addition, as in-house recruiters, Fidelity TalentSource understands Fidelity’s hiring needs more thoroughly than a third-party vendor could. The hiring process is more efficient and transparent.

“Our advantage is that our team of recruiters and operational and staffing professionals are Fidelity employees and know the organization inside and out,” says Brian. “They’ve established relationships inside the firm with hiring managers and decision-makers.”

When you’re a contractor with Fidelity TalentSource, your manager is your manager. You won’t need to rely on the third-party vendor to feed you information about your performance or what could be improved. Instead, you’ll be working under the same manager as regular associates.

“They’re going to give you feedback if there are areas that you need to work on,” says Shawn. You won’t be blindsided by an early contract termination. Instead, you’ll know where you stand and what you can do to improve upfront.

Sign #2: You left pay and benefits on the table as a contractor

“Hourly pay rates for positions through Fidelity TalentSource are highly competitive in the marketplace,” says Brian. Rates vary by region and role.

We can offer more competitive rates because Fidelity TalentSource doesn’t have the same business model as a third-party vendor. We don’t work on commission or take a percentage of your pay.

Fidelity TalentSource pays contractors weekly, which is important to many contractors. Because Fidelity is a stable and secure company, you won’t need to worry when you’ll get paid. You’ll have peace of mind knowing the money you earned is on its way to you week after week for the duration of your contract.

“Fidelity TalentSource healthcare benefits are better than what you would find with most third-party contract vendors,” says Shawn. “I would say Fidelity TalentSource is above average compared with third-party agencies with benefits as a whole.”

Here’s how Fidelity stacks up. (Benefits subject to change.)

Benefit	What Fidelity TalentSource offers	How it's above average
Paid sick leave	80 hours/year	Twice the average of what many regular employees get elsewhere
Medical, dental, and vision coverage	Multiple options available to meet your individual and family’s needs	Only 40% of contract company workers had employer-provided health insurance.
Employee assistance program (EAP)	Free and confidential short-term counseling, referrals, and follow-up services	Only 52% of companies offer hourly workers EAP services.
Referral bonus	If Fidelity TalentSource associates refer a qualified candidate for an open position, they could be eligible to receive a $500 referral bonus.	Referral programs are typically limited to permanent employees and/or positions.
Commuter benefit	Save money on commuting costs using pre-tax dollars to cover expenses like mass transit, van pools, or parking.	Commuter benefits are typically only offered to permanent employees.

Fidelity TalentSource offers a robust suite of benefits to contract associates, including 401k contributions, additional insurance and disability coverage options, generous leave of absence for situations such as parental leave or jury duty, discount programs, and more. You can save for retirement, support your family as you need to, and enjoy entertainment and activities in your local community.

Plus, you’ll enjoy many of the same on-site amenities and concierge services as regular associates, such as fitness facilities, game rooms, and nature preserves.

Your gateway to a new career. Fidelity's Talent Network emails you job-seeker information and Fidelity careers news on a regular basis. I want in.

Sign #3: You don’t feel challenged or intellectually stimulated by your temporary or contract work

When you work for Fidelity TalentSource, you contribute to meaningful projects. “We have TalentSource employees who are working side-by-side with regular associates on high-profile, complex projects and initiatives and helping to deliver on many of Fidelity’s top priorities,” says Brian. You’ll help Fidelity achieve our long-term organizational goals.

That’s why we ensure that contractors have the same exposure to cutting-edge technologies and systems that our regular associates have. Getting real-world experience with these tools can help jumpstart your career, especially in contract technology roles.

Sign #4: You don’t feel like you’re part of the team as a contractor

“We’re one team. It is very hard to tell the difference between a regular Fidelity employee and a Fidelity TalentSource employee,” says Brian.

As a contractor, you’re on the same team, doing the same work, and participating in the same activities and events as the rest of the team. You’re integrated and welcomed from the start. “I started as a contractor myself,” says Sarah. “Fidelity really makes you feel like you’re part of the team. Fidelity wants you to add value and participate in the same activities.”

We help set you up for success, no matter what entry point you take, whether through contract or permanent employment. “We welcome you into the organization and help you with all the things you need to know,” says Brian. “You immediately have access to all the central Fidelity resources that everybody else has.”

As a learning organization, we’re always open to feedback so we can improve our systems, processes, policies, and facilities. “We’re in a very feedback-rich environment,” says Sarah. “If you’ve got ideas on process improvement or new technology, we’re all ears to hear it.”

Sign #5: You don’t feel like you have future opportunities

With Fidelity TalentSource, you can choose which career path works best for you, whether that means possibly converting to being a regular, contract-to-hire employee or continuing in a temporary role with other projects. “The internal mobility at Fidelity is huge,” says Shawn. “Managers are encouraged to help you look for other jobs and move your career forward. That’s not something third-party agencies typically discuss.”

“Fidelity TalentSource provides a great opportunity to showcase your skill set and add value to the team,” says Sarah. “If you make your intentions clear that you want to have longevity with your career at Fidelity, we’ll provide you the resources you need to be successful. It’s all about what you make of it.”

If you’re interested in going the regular route, know we have a strong track record. “Converting to regular is never guaranteed, but some of our roles are opened with the hiring strategy to convert them to regular based off performance and head count for that specific team,” says Sarah. “If that’s not the case, your recruiter will tell you up front.”

“A lot of the time, if you convert to being a regular employee, we’ll honor your time served as a contractor, so you won’t have to wait as long for tenure-based benefits to kick in,” says Sarah. That’s one small way we recognize and value the hard work and time our contractors devote to us.

Our internal Career Center gives you the tools and resources you need to advance your career with resume and interviewing workshops, webinars, and even coaching. “We try to give as much help as we can to people to set them up for success,” said Sarah. With both physical on-site support and virtual offerings, you can access the Career Center whenever and however you want.

Find your Fidelity in a temporary role or as a contract associate with Fidelity TalentSource

Wherever you are in your career, Fidelity TalentSource has a contract opportunity for you. “Our Fidelity TalentSource associates span all career stages, from students balancing work and school, to new graduates, to individuals reentering the workforce. It’s a perfect situation for someone interested in Fidelity,” says Brian.

“We’re adding new roles every day and could have hundreds on any given day for a variety of skill sets. There’s something out there for you if you’re interested in Fidelity,” says Sarah.

Join our talent network today to get updates on our latest flexible temporary roles and contract positions.

Feb 10, 2026 4 minute read

How to find and apply for the right Fidelity job for you

career advice

Mar 10, 2026 3 minute read

What to do at a career fair, and how you can prepare