Career Development Through Temporary Employment
Network and Develop Job Skills With Temporary Placements
Jun 23, 2009
Temporary employment agencies can be used to find temporary or permanent work in a variety of fields, including administrative, engineering, medical, and legal. As well as providing a source of income during a long job search, temporary agencies also allow job seekers to explore new industries, learn new skills, and connect with potential employers.
Benefits of Using a Temporary Employment Agency
- Temporary placements allow job seekers to experience companies of different sizes and with different corporate cultures, enabling them to find the best fit for them.
- Temporary placements allow job seekers to research different industries.
- Job seekers can "try out" different jobs without the pressure of a long term commitment.
- Job seekers on a temporary placement have the opportunity to demonstrate their skills to potential employers "on the job".
- Temp employees have the chance to learn new skills, and to keep old skills fresh.
- Employment agencies can network on a candidate's behalf, and have access to unadvertised jobs, making them a valuable ally in any job search.
- Temporary placements can provide experience to those just starting out in their field, whether they are new graduates, or have recently changed careers.
- Temporary placements can provide income while a candidate searches for a permanent job.
How to Join a Temp Agency
- Job seekers should research agencies are in their local area, and which jobs they specialize in placing.
- Once candidates find an agency they are interested in, they can phone or email that agency for further information. The candidate will most likely be asked to submit a resume and/or fill out an online profile.
- Candidates will be called in for an interview and testing session. Temp agencies frequently test for software knowledge, and, for administrative positions, typing and data entry. The agency will ask the candidate questions about their career goals are, and what type of placements they would prefer.
- The temporary agency will check the candidate's references, and place the candidate on file until a suitable position for them comes up.
Tips for Working With a Temporary Staffing Agency
- Candidates should be honest on their resumes about their abilities and skill levels.
- Candidates should consider which skills they want to build and make this clear to the agency. Temp agencies will try to match candidates with assignments that they are qualified for, and that they are interested in.
- Candidates should be clear about whether they are interested in short or long term employment, and in temporary or permanent work
- Candidates should notify their temp agency immediately about changes to their schedule, or if they accept a full-time job.
Temporary employment offers a varied and flexible schedule, as well as a variety of tasks and activities that help keep job seekers connected with the demands in today's labor force. Temporary agencies can be valuable resources in helping job seekers find permanent employment, even in a difficult labor market. The opportunity that temporary placements provide to network and learn new job skills is one that no serious job seeker can overlook.
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