Title

Work Style

How to Use a Temporary Agency
in Your Job Search

Temporary work was once the domain of entry-level jobs that were short in duration and poorly paid. But with more employers using temporary staffing as a way to provide fast access to work-ready employees, it is a great way to get your foot in the door to a new career or as part of a job search strategy.

B E Conrad reports

For whatever reason, it seems that job seekers are often unwilling to consider temporary employment as part of their overall job search strategy. Some people might feel that working as a temp is beneath them, especially if they have spent many years building up a solid career filled with real accomplishments. Others might fret that working a temporary job will impact their ability to look for permanent full-time employment and go to job interviews. Others reason that the only jobs available at temp agencies are entry level positions with little skill requirement and no chance for advancement.

While there might be a tiny grain of truth to these objections, there are also a great many fallacies that need to be put to rest. Half the challenge of getting a job is simply getting your foot in the door, and working through a temp agency gets your entire body through the door of top employers in your area. Once there, you have a golden opportunity to demonstrate your commitment, knowledge and work ethic. Even if the job you are doing is far below your skill level and pay grade, you will get an opportunity to show the management of the company what you can do. You will also get a chance to talk to the various managers and feel around for permanent job opportunities.

Just consider that many companies have a policy requiring them to post all jobs internally for several weeks before opening them up to outside applicants and putting them on job boards. With so many of those policies in place, you can bet that a fair percentage of available jobs will never be posted publicly. Your job as a temporary worker gives you the perfect perch to watch out for, and apply for, those great opportunities.

The temporary employment naysayers also fail to understand that modern staffing agencies work with everyone from doctors and nurses to accountants and engineers. The current environment for temporary staffing agencies goes far beyond the office clerks, secretaries and day labourers who once dominated the industry. These days, there is no reason to look askance at temporary jobs. In fact, these jobs can be a springboard to a wealth of opportunities.

Another interesting thing about temp agencies is that you can use them to learn about a number of different industries from the inside. These days, people are likely to have not just multiple jobs but multiple careers as well, and the ability to move in and out of various industries and market segments is a valuable and in-demand skill. The more you can learn about area employers and their practices, the better off you will be, both in your current job search and in the future.

So take a few minutes to visit your local temporary staffing agencies as you go about your job search. You will spend a few hours filling in applications, taking some tests and interviewing with an employee from the agency. In return, you will have access to a number of opportunities, including opportunities for full-time permanent jobs that you would never have known about otherwise.

What's your experience of using temp work in a job search?

Comment on this story in BizMojo Communicate

For More Information

RCSA Australia & New Zealand

The RCSA (Recruitment & Consulting Services Association) is the peak industry association for recruiters and has a Code for Professional Practice that all its members must abide by..

www.rcsa.com.au