Working temp jobs through an agency can be a great way to get filler work for those in-between times. It can also be a great way to get a foot in an industry that you have your eye on. However, finding temporary staffing employment isn’t the same as finding a permanent job. The process is different—but you can find temp employment easily with these five steps.
Goal
Are you looking to go into a specific industry or are you looking to work for just about any company who will take you? The answer to this question will set the tone for the researching stage of finding temporary staffing employment.
Research Agencies
The first step to finding temporary staffing employment is to research agencies near you. Many agencies specialize in certain industries, so make sure you’re reading their “about us” sections so you’re not wasting your time with a manufacturing staffing agency if you’re really looking to get a sales job. For best results, check out reviews on social media, blogs, and review websites on each agency you’ve researched to see if they’re worth your time.
Send Out Your Resume
Sending out your resume to a temp agency isn’t the same as sending one to a company. Typically, you’re not just emailing it to the agency’s human resources manager. These days, most recruiting is done online through the agency’s website. So check out each website and upload your resume in the manner specified. You might have to spend additional time filling out online questionnaires so make sure you’ve set aside more time than usual for this step.
Follow Up
If you haven’t heard from the staffing agency after a few days, give them a call to follow up on your application. This is a great opportunity to talk to a recruiter one-on-one to discuss your wants, needs, and expectations, and questions.
The response you get from your follow up can also give insight into the type of agency you’ve applied to. Are they brushing you off or are they taking the time to answer your questions and nurture a relationship with you? Agencies deal with large pools of candidates, so if you want to stand out to get more job offers, you need to put in a little extra effort.
Plan for Paperwork and Tests
Even though you’ve filled out hours of online questionnaires already, if you get an interview with the agency, set aside enough time to fill out more paperwork and write more tests. Staffing agencies go through thorough screening processes to ensure that every candidate is suited for the job being offered, so this a step you’ll just have to deal with if finding temporary staffing employment is what you’re looking for. You’ll need to write out paperwork for your emergency contact, your tax info, your SIN number, your skill set, and your experience. You’ll may need to take typing tests, software tests, equipment and tool tests—the list goes on. Be prepared so you can go in with the mission of acing every test.
Whether you’re looking for a few extra bucks or trying to get into a specific field, finding temporary staffing employment is a good option. You simply have to choose a goal, research agencies in your area, send out your resume, follow up, and prepare for extra tests and paperwork and then the temp agency does the rest of the work for you—getting in touch with companies and setting up interviews for you. Finding temporary staffing employment can be easy—you just have to know how the process works.
