Temping: It’s not for Everyone!
I talk to a lot of people that are interested in doing temp for various reasons, and let’s be honest; temping is simply not for everybody. As the name so aptly implies, the nature of temp jobs are short term and without guarantee. In order to get the most out of this kind of work, you must be flexible and open minded.
When deciding whether or not to temp, it’s important to understand what your short term goals are. Some good qualifying questions that you can ask yourself: am I looking for my dream job, or just to make some fast cash? Am I looking to work in a specific industry or to figure out what industry suits me best? Temping is a great option for people looking to fill in the proverbial blanks in their career history, or for those who need a fluid schedule so they can pick up last minute auditions.
That’s not to say there isn’t the possibility of a temp job converting to a permanent job or that it can’t open doors. Each of the temporary Associates brought into Atrium are interviewed by a counselor to determine short and long term career goals. The counselor’s role in this relationship is to be a sounding board and to present job opportunities they believe are appropriate based on said goals. By working with your counselor, understanding the process and again, remaining accessible, you will get the most out of working with a temp agency. The temp’s relationship with the counselor is a two-way, open dialogue; you must communicate what you need.
Something else to consider is your professional background; does your resume actually read admin? Temporary administrative jobs sometimes also require a resume submittal. Just because you’re capable of executing administrative tasks does not make you a temp admin candidate. Though positions can range from simple clerical positions to executive admin, clients that are more flexible with resumes are shorter and tend to pay less. If you’re fine filling in a last minute role like this, then temp could be a great option. But the high paying, executive administrative positions require somebody with the relevant career history for consideration.
In this same vane, employers and recruiters alike recognize large gaps between jobs in your employment history. A temp agency is not a displacement service, so while we are dedicated to getting our Associates out to work, there is no guarantee that after registering you will find immediate and ongoing employment.
There is a lot to think about before calling a temp agency. In the world of temp admin, there are a lot of unknown variables and little control. For some, this is intriguing and keeps things interesting, but for others it’s off putting and potentially disappointing. If you’ve got the right mentality and an open mind, flexibility and a great attitude, temp is a great option. The most successful Associates are those that put their hand up for every opportunity and are able to make an impression on assignments by getting the job done well!
- Mindy P., Temporary Staffing Consultant