If you have been in the job market for a while, working for a temp agency can be a good way to supplement your income while you experience different work environments.
It is important to keep in mind that when you reach out to a temp agency you are also making contact with your potential employer. A temp agency will be your employer, and the way you present your qualifications and interests is a significant step in getting hired.
Before signing up with a temporary agency, research different agencies and the types of employment they specialize in before your initial meeting. Explore the agency’s reputation, and find out how big the agency is and what type of resources they offer to employees (you!). While doing your research, network with people who have experience in the temp field, if possible.
Make a list of questions so you’re prepared for any research outing or networking conversation, such as:
Does the agency offers training programs with an emphasis on industry-specific classes?
How does the agency match an employee’s skills assignments?
Temp agencies look for candidates who display a strong sense of communication skills and a willingness to serve two employers — the temp agency as well as the employer they are placed with. A customer-service attitude will help you develop a good working relationship with a temp agency because temp agencies are in the business of serving client companies by providing them with the best talent with the least amount of disruption to the existing workforce.
Temporary employees move in and out of assignments and are exposed to a variety of work cultures. A good personnel coordinator at your temp agency can provide support if you run into issues while at a client company.
Bear in mind that temp assignments can be a mixed bag of experiences. Temp employees can feel as though they are being treated as less than an employee while on assignment. For example, a temp employee who took on a short-term administrative assignment found the employees walked past them without even stopping to acknowledge them.
Another employee had the opposite experiences, and even landed a permanent position while temping. Management at the client company saw how well this person interacted with customers and staff while on temporary assignment, and offered him a job.
Temp employees are professionals, and their assignments give them the opportunity to experience different corporate cultures. Their experiences often influence their next career steps … sometimes they’re grateful to move on to a new company.
Working with a temp agency can be a good career move, and it can open doors if you keep an open mind, have a flexible attitude and use the experience as a way to build your skills.
Have you had a good experience working as a temp?
