Working for a temp agency is not only a great way to find a job and get working quickly, it is also an excellent way to survey the job market in a particular area. A temporary staffing agency is also a great way to "try" on jobs to see if they are a good fit for you, your skills, and your personality. Here are two tips to keep in mind when considering registering with a temp agency.
Prepare For The Interview
A staffing agency is contracted by companies to take care of the screening for them. This means you want to put your best foot forward, just as if you were interviewing with the company's human resources department directly.
Make sure resume is up-to-date, accurate, and polished. Have someone else proofread it for you to make sure it is free of grammatical errors. If you are concerned your resume may not be professional, take a resume writing workshop through your local community college or job service. You can also consider hiring a professional resume writing service to write it for you. Dress for the position, brush up on your office skills in the position requires it, and practice answering "interview" questions so your answers are concise, clear, and honestly reflect who you are.
Interview The Agency
The staffing agency will, of course, want to interview you; that's a big part of the service they provide for the employers they work with, pre-screening applicants. But you should also interview them. Not every temp agency is going to be right for you. Some specialize in placing skilled blue-collar employees in much-needed industrial settings, whereas others cater to clientele in the healthcare or insurance industry, for example. Choose an agency that has contracts with the types of employers you are interested in working for. Once you have determined a specific agency would be a good fit for you and the skills you have to offer, don't be afraid to ask them questions such as how many people they place, what the competition is like, and whether or not employees are hired full-time by the company eventually. Some people, especially if they are just starting out in their professional career or are new to an area, don't necessarily want to settle on the first offer they are given. Ensure the temporary staffing agency knows your goals so they can best serve both you and their other clients.
Once you have registered with an agency, like BIRK Staffing & Technical Services, stay in contact with them. Check in weekly to let them know you are still proactively searching for employment. Stay fresh in their mind and develop a working relationship with them. This will help the agency find a good fit for you.
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