Temporary employment agencies??

[Serena]

Does anyone have experience with them, good, bad, and could you explain the process????? Pretty please.

 

[jipsy]

Serena I have used several in the past to get jobs, such as Kelly.

You call them and make an appointment. They interview you to find out your skills - can you type, can you take shorthand, what office equipment can you use, have you ever worked in a factory, etc. etc. etc. If you can type, they'll give you a typing test to determine your efficiency. They may give you a grammar test, etc. It all depends on what type of job you want.

Then they will try and match you to a job based on your skills. The job could be for a day, it could be for months. They will tell you up front what the job pays. You do not have to accept it if you do not want to and that doesn't count against you.

On several occasions, I was sent to jobs that were unfilled positions at companies. Usually someone left suddenly. They liked me and offered me a permanent position with a salary. I accepted the permanent position and left Kelly. There was no fee due to Kelly for this.

On a few occasions, I was offered a permanent job which I didn't want. I just told them I wasn't interested for whatever reason and kept working through Kelly.

You will be required to fill out a time card for each job and the supervisor at the company has to sign it. You turn it in on a certain day, and Kelly gives your your paycheck.

Most temp agencies work the same. A temp agency is not the same as a job placement agency; job placement agencies try to find you a permanent position for a fee. If you use a job placement agency, make sure you tell them you are looking for a fee paid job only (this means the company who hires you pays the fee, not you). You are usually required to stay with this company for at least six months; if you leave before the six months are over, the company can demand you refund the fee they paid to hire you. Snelling & Snelling is one of those types of companies, if they are still in business. I don't know; I haven't used one in a long time.

Register yourself at monster.com and search for jobs in your area through that also.

hotjobs.com too

PM me if you need more info.

 

[tater bug]

Quite a few years back I was a Kelly girl. They test you before they will assign you anywhere. I remember staying very busy with them. Good luck to you.

 

[Toby'sFriend]

I did this one summer while I was in college. I signed up with several of the Temp agencies in the area. The jobs I filled were mostly 1 to 2 week positions while the regular secretary/receptionist went on vacation.

Many of the agencies that I was registered with would actually offer job training on many of the "high demand" computer applications such as spreadsheets and word processing.

It was a great way to update your skills.

 

[jldriscoll]

I can't add anything to this....just wanted to say, I smiled when I read your post.....one more step.. Good for you serena!!!

 

[Serena]

Thanks, I think I'll make a call.

 

[danacara]

Kelly is awesome - I got my first summer internship through them, and it levered me all the way up to my current job. I would definitely recommend them.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

I landed a job at my current workplace through Interim, now Spherion. I worked as a temp and then was hired into a permanent position. And I have had two promotions since then. This is a job that I would not have gotten otherwise.

When I signed up I was put through testing on Word, Excel, Access (I think), pretty much whatever I was familiar with, plus some other tests, such as typing, grammar, etc.

It's a great way to figure out what you want to do when you are not sure!

Good luck with this and with everything else.

 

[Diane]

I temped through an agency called, OfficeTeam for about 6 months several years ago. I really enjoyed the experience – seeing different work environments and different jobs. Also, it was comforting to know that if I didn’t like something about the job, I didn’t have to stay there.

My current job was my last temp assignment. I liked it so much that I applied for it. I’ve been here almost 4 years.

 

[kinlaw6450]

I have been at my most awesome job for 5 years...after being placed here by a temp agency. I was supposed to be here for 9 weeks!

 

[Diane]

I’m so glad to hear it! I love happy endings, especially when they involve animals.

 

[Serena]

 

[crisi]

Some more hints:

- If you are dependant on the income, register with more than one agency. One agency will likely become your "primary" agency, but the other is available if nothing comes through with the first.

- If you are dependant on the income, let them know when you are available. Get up and get dressed each morning you aren't assigned and call in with "I'm available and ready to go." This will often get you whatever just came in. (It also leaves a "go get em" impression with the agency - and that means raises). Even if you aren't dependant on the income, calling when you want to work is preferable to waiting for the phone to ring. The opposite is true also, if you aren't available, let them know.

- Especially early on in your temp career, be flexible in the assignments you take. You don't want a reputation of "We'd call Serena, but she always turns down the assignment anyway."

I did this (oh -- too long ago now) when I was "between jobs" and made a better living than I had at my former "real" job. I also got lots of job offers - one of which I ended up taking.