The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Kick-start job search with temp agency
Learn new skills, test drive new role and get foot in door.
If you’ve been floundering lately, with no real job prospects on the horizon, a temp agency just might be the answer to your proverbial prayers.
But why bother with a job that isn’t full-time? Because temp jobs are excellent opportunities for you to test the waters of a job or career without committing to all the trappings of a position. That said, if you happen to have a positive experience temping for a company, it may wind up turning into something more permanent when the circumstances allow.
If you’re thinking of pursuing temporary work, it’s important to understand the process and how to maximize temp jobs. Start with this guide.
What is a temp?
A temp is a short-term contract worker. As a temp, you get hired by staffing agencies to work at a company for a set period of time. Commonly, temp jobs are seasonal (customer service reps during the holidays; accountants during tax time) or based around a defined project (web developers required to launch a new company website; registered nurses needed to implement a vaccine rollout).
As more and more corporations struggle to fill roles, they are turning to temp agencies to find qualified candidates — that would be you. A temp agency can alleviate some of the strain of an overworked staff; other times it might be called on to cover a worker who is on leave.
How does a temp agency work?
Companies hire a temp agency to find them people who can fill roles for a set period of time. All you have to do is sign up with an agency much the same way you’d apply to a job. The agency will interview you and will match you with the appropriate clients.
The interview is designed to determine your top skills and work preferences so that the staffing agency places you accordingly. At that point, you’ll usually get a work assignment agreement or contract to get started. It’ll likely cover pay rate, per diem rate, travel expenses, and the like.
You do want to watch the fine print, however. Many staffing firms will require you to sign a contract that says you’ll exclusively work with them and only them. Meaning, you can’t sign up with more than one temp agency.
And some agencies may try to charge you a placement fee, which is generally a red flag. Do some research to find out what is typical for your field, and to make sure that you’re working with a reputable agency.
Examples of temp jobs
■ Administrative assistants and office managers
■ Computer support specialists
■ Copywriters
■ Customer service representatives
■ Data entry professionals
■ Receptionists
■ Seasonal retail sales workers
■ Software testers
■ Substitute teachers
■ Warehouse workers
Advantages of temp work
As a temp, you can gain valuable experience in different industries and work environments. For recent graduates especially, contract work can help you to identify your strengths and weaknesses as you evaluate your next career move.
Here are some other benefits of temp work:
It can be a resume builder.
Temp work might give you the opportunity to build skills you wouldn’t otherwise be exposed to if you were just taking on a permanent position, says Woodruff.
It allows you some flexibility.
For certain types of contract work, especially in fields like health care, you can choose to work for a certain period of time and then take a break before starting another assignment.
You might discover a new passion.
Maybe you’ve never worked in a particular industry, say health care, before. You might learn that the environment really suits you and taps into skills you didn’t get to use otherwise
You won’t have to deal with the politics of a full-time role.
Sometimes in permanent positions, there are a lot of internal factors at play that prevent you from advancing. With contract work, you’re just there to do a job and get it done as best as possible, drama free.
It’s less of a hassle.
You don’t have to go out and find your next job, remember to send your invoice, or figure out your taxes. A temp agency takes care of all of that.