Job searching is tedious, grueling, and frustrating. As you respond to job ad after job ad and send out resume after resume, it’s natural for you to start to feel bummed out by the lack of response.
What if we told you that you could stop checking out job boards and spending hours and hours looking for employment? You can, with temp staffing.
You might have come across some temporary staffing agencies on your search, but you may have been hesitant to apply—you simply don’t know enough about it to feel confident. But applying to a staffing agency can be highly valuable to your job search, so fear no more. Check out our guide on how temp staffing works, so you can feel confident in applying.
The Benefits
Engaging a temp staffing firm can reduce your workload. The agency will do all of the legwork for you—search for opportunities that match your skills and experience, email your resume, and contact hiring managers. Temp agencies have deep networks and will be able to provide you access to positions that you didn’t even know about and couldn’t apply to on your own.
Plus, these agencies provide decent pay and other benefits and they can get your foot in the door for a full-time position, while you get paid and build your resume in the meantime. And it’s all free to you! The agency will never ask for a dime.
How to Apply
If you’ve found a specific job that you’re interested in, you can apply directly to it to get on the agency’s radar. You can also research local temp staffing agencies in your area that work with the types of businesses you’re looking to be employed with. Then, go on the firm’s website and apply. You’ll get a call in a couple days.
What to Expect after You Apply
The process after you apply will be similar to any other job application sent to a company. The agency will screen and interview you in order to learn more about your skills, wants, needs, and interests, and you’ll probably sign a contract. You may go through some testing.
If there are no immediate job openings that are a good match, the agency will keep your resume on file, and you’ll be in its candidate pool for when opportunities do show up. Most agencies will keep you in the candidate pool for about six months, while others will keep you there indefinitely. You can call and follow up at any time to see if there are any available opportunities as well. When you work with a temp staffing firm, you’ll shorten your time in unemployment considerably, as your agency will have contracts with many employers looking for temps.
When You’re Offered a Job
Soon enough, you’ll get a call or email offering you a temp position. You can accept or decline it. The type of job and duration of the contract will vary considerably depending on the employer’s needs. At this point, you can ask questions, but even if you do accept, the job may go to another temp. If you’re chosen, you’ll get additional information about the company and your expected duties and responsibilities.
Once the contract job is over, you’ll go back into the candidate pool for other opportunities. However, you may get an extension or even be offered a full-time job through your temp position.
How the Pay Works
You will be paid directly from the temp agency, not the employer. The agency will be the one deducting your taxes. You’ll also get a T4 slip come tax time to report your earnings. The agency will never take a portion of your pay cheques—it gets paid for its services through your employer.
Now that you understand how temp staffing works, do some research and apply to an agency!
