When you’re looking for a job, you’re looking for that dream career, right? You want that job that perfectly matches your skillset to appear before you, as if by magic.

Unfortunately, life doesn’t always work out like that, and that’s why – especially if you aren’t employed at the moment – you should consider taking a job that’s not “Mr. Right” but “Mr. That’ll Do” – at least until the dream career comes along.

A stopgap job is something that pays the bills for now. It may not be exactly what you want, but it makes you feel useful, keeps your hand in the job market – and, of course, delivers that all-important paycheck.

Plus, taking a stopgap job can be good for your resume. If it’s something different than what your career path has been until this point, it shows your diversity, and that’s something employers want to see. You could end up picking up skillsets that you didn’t have before that can carry over to the next stage in your career – for example, if you’ve worked exclusively in Mac environments until now, you may end up on a PC for awhile. You may have been in management before, and find yourself in more of a consulting role.

Indeed, some of these things could push you a step closer to the job of your dreams – maybe the people at Company Mr. Right need someone who can wear a variety of hats. Above all, don’t think there’s any shame or “selling out” in taking a stopgap job and doing your best for your current employer.

As career consultant Liz Ryan says in this Business Week online problem/solution piece, “We're working hard for our employers today while keeping an eye trained on the next chapters in our careers.”

One caveat: If at all possible, make sure you allow time for yourself to do whatever is necessary to get that job you really want – networking, education, job searching, etc. A job that requires piles and piles of overtime may not be what you want right now.

So don’t be afraid or ashamed to take that fill-in job. It just may be a stepping stone to that job “for keeps.”

- Bonnie