Once you have chosen an agency to work with you will be required to sign a contract with them.  It is important that you always read the small print and ask about anything that you do not fully understand.  When you are under contract you agree to become an employee of the temp agency.  This means that any work offers whether temporary or permanent will need to go through the agency.  You should not assume that you will be able to make your own connections and subvert the agency to get the job.

The Advantages of Temping

The primary advantage of temping is that you gain experience through the opportunity of working for a range of different companies.  You can find out if you like working in a fast-paced office or if you do not actually like working at a desk.  You can also find out if you are good at working with the public.  Temping is a great way to find out what you actually want out of your job.

You will also be able to learn about the different career fields that you may not otherwise be exposed to.  If you work in the office of a medical society you may learn about unique medical specialties that you would not know about generally. This type of exposure can help you determine what your future career will be.

Another benefit is that you will be able to make contacts because you represent an agency that has more contacts then you would be able to get on your own.  The agency will also have an inside track to who is hiring and what they are going to be looking for.  When you work for an agency you get their seal of approval and this could put you well ahead of the candidate that comes off the street.

The third benefit that you find is that you can transition into a permanent position as the employer is given a chance to see you shine when you temp.  You should not be surprised if a week long assignment turns into a permanent job offer.  When this comes you will be able to determine if this is a company that you would want to work for long-term.  You are under no obligation to accept the offer, but if you do then you need to let the temp agency know.

Another benefit is that you will have flexibility because while most temp jobs are 40 hours a week once they are over you can take time off if you want.  Of course, you will need to maintain enough of a presence in the job pool to keep the agency interested in working with you.  If you keep disappearing then you might be seen as flaky and fewer jobs will be sent your way.

The last advantage to temp work is that you gain skills and experience.  People who have been laid off and are looking to move to a more lucrative career can benefit from this.  While taking a course at the local college will teach you new skills, personal experience will generally help the most.

It is possible to take a course on QuickBooks at college because this is the accounting software that 95% of small businesses use.  This will help you get placements where you can further expand your QuickBooks skills to ensure that you are ready for any jobs that come up.  A combination of classwork and on-the-job experience is ideal for preparing yourself for a new line of work.  If you can prove basic skills to the agency then they are likely to place you in jobs where you work under supervision to enhance your skills.

The Disadvantages Of Temping

There is a downside to everything and temping is not an exception.  One of the disadvantages to temping is that you could feel isolated in your job.  You may also be treated worse than permanent employees because you are going to be leaving at some point.  There is also a lack of stability when it comes to your income and you will not have any benefits such as insurance or a pension plan.

There are not that many disadvantages to temping, but if you like the security of a regular job then this is not the right option for you.

Charles Hunter Associates provide locum social workers to a variety of different areas and are renowned experts in their field.