If you're a contract or “alternative�?employee, take a deep breath and stand proud. Unemployment is at a 25-year low. The number of corporations that once depended on independent contractors -- some 10 percent of their work force in 1990 -- now find that 35 percent will be the average by the year 2000. The temp field has boomed with 2.3 million temps going to work on any given day -- that's twice the number of just four years ago. And 7 million people now telecommute at least one day a week, up from about 4 million five years ago.

What this means is that corporations have never been

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more receptive to alternative work arrangements. Here are some of the best options:

1. Transform your current job. Ask yourself what your ultimate goals are (spend more time with your family, avoid long commutes, pursue hobbies) and then think of a way to fashion your job to fit that goal.

   You may be able to work from home two days a week. Or work a 30-hour week and still keep benefits and seniority. Or become a free agent within your company and travel from project to project taking generous amounts of time off in-between. Or work longer days in order to have a three-day weekend every week.

2. Consider the temp life. Way beyond typing and filing, there are now temp positions available for professional positions ranging from programmers to physicians. To find local temp offices in your area, try http://www.manpower.com or http://www.kellyservices.com. And for a list of insider tips on how to play the temp game, check out http://www.panix.com/~grvsmth/redguide/tips.html/.

3. Barter for your future. Now that you've broken out of the 9 to 5 routine, don't fall back on other outdated methods of setting up your business. One clever copywriter, for example, found office space by offering to work two days a month for "free" in exchange for a rent-free office at that company all month. A programmer agreed to take on a project on tight deadline if he was given the opportunity to purchase his work computer at a reduced rate once the project was completed. A caterer agreed to handle the food and party preparations for the opening of a new office in exchange for a logo and stationery created for her by one of the firm's art directors.

4. Join other free agents. The biggest challenge for independent contractors (beyond the loneliness) is worry about medical, disability and retirement accounts. A labor lawyer named Sara Horowitz has started an organization called Working Today which is a lobby of sorts for independent contractors. Offering insurance and financial advice, the organization now has 35,000 members. Check it out at http://www.workingtoday.org.