Temping for a Living
You’ve just been laid off, there’s no real job in site, and you need more money than unemployment’s offering. Whattcha going to do? Call a temp agency.
Temporary employees or “temps” work for agencies that send them to assignments at various companies. Companies use temps for a variety of reasons including special projects, to fill in for vacationing full-time employees, or to try out employees before they offer them a full-time position.
The types of work available for temps run the gamut from factory labor to management and professional positions. Temping is an especially good place for people with office skills, including software and administrative duties, to pick up some extra cash.
The one drawback to temping is that temps only work when there is an assignment available. If no assignments have come in that you are qualified for, you won’t work and won’t get paid. However, I have always believed that all employees are temporary in the sense that they can be fired at the whim of an employer and it is only those working for temp agencies that are smart enough to realize it.
There are advantages to being a temp. Since you know that you’re not going to be there very long, you won’t get pulled in to the office gossip and politics as easily. Seriously, since you’ll be performing different tasks in different places, you’ll keep your job skills current and you’ll be sharp in many different areas, instead of having a job for 10 years doing the same repetitive thing every day. That’s a big advantage during a job interview, if you sell it right. I’ve been able to sell my temp experience as a plus in interviews by stressing the fact that I learned to work in a variety of different situations and had to learn to think on my feet.
As a temporary employee, you will be an employee of the temping agency and will receive your paycheck from them. They will also deduct any necessary taxes and, if applicable, deductions for insurance and other benefits. If they don’t give you a W-2 form to fill out, or if they say you will be an “independent contractor,” think twice about the agency. All legitimate temp agencies will put you on the payroll.
Getting Work
To get work with a temporary agency, you’ll need to sign up with an agency—or a few agencies—and undergo testing and an interview to assess your skills. Although temps have gotten a bad rap by some people as unskilled, most temp agencies thoroughly test skills to make sure all temps they hire are qualified.
An interview with a temp agency should be handled just like an interview for any other position. Dress professionally and handle yourself in a professional manner.
Even if you have a resume, you’ll be asked to fill out an application detailing what type of work you’re looking for, what your skills are, and when you are available to work.
If you are signing up to do administrative work, expect a series of computerized tests to assess your qualifications on various software packages.
After you’ve taken, and hopefully passed, the tests, and been interviewed by a member of the staff, you’ll be given a brief orientation as to how things work at that particular agency. Then you’ll be sent home to wait by the phone until they have an assignment available that you qualify for.
Getting Assignments
The best way to get assignments is to make sure that the temp agency knows your name and knows that you are ready to work. Make sure to check in with your agency at least once a week to see if there is anything available and to make sure they know that you are still interested in working. Make sure to provide them with a cell phone or page number, if available, and make sure you have voice mail so they can always get in touch with you.
But you can call them as often as you want. Don’t be afraid to be a pest. My husband and I have both have gotten assignments from temp agencies that were slated to go to someone else because we called at the right time and were available. Plus, if they keep you working, you won’t call and pester them. Remember, the squeaky wheel gets the grease.
Getting to Work
When you get an assignment, get as much information from the temp agency as possible, including where to go, what time to be there, what hours you’ll be working, and who you’ll be reporting to.
Make sure that you show up on time. Nothing looks worse than a temp employee who cannot even be bothered to show up on time for work. Generally, you’ll report to the front desk and tell them why you are there and who you are there to see.
Once you’ve met your supervisor and been assigned a workstation, double check your hours and what tasks you’ll be doing. If you have any questions, make sure to ask your supervisor for clarification and ask if there is anyone else available that can help you if you run into problems. And then get to work.
Who You Work For
When you are on assignment, do not forget that you work for your temp agency. If you are running late or are not able to report to work, contact your agency and they will contact your supervisor. Clear any vacation time through your agency. If you are on a long-term assignment and have developed a relationship with your supervisor, it’s a good idea to let your supervisor know directly that you’ll be off so that you’re sure they are in the loop. I’ve ended up getting dinged for not showing up because my temp agency knew I was taking off, but hadn’t passed that along to my supervisor.
Make sure to get your time sheet signed every week by your supervisor and make sure to turn it in on time.
Making Contacts
Although every temp assignment probably won’t turn into a full time job, it’s important to make a good impression because if you do a good enough job, your supervisor may call and ask for you by name the next time they need a temp. Additionally, if any full time job openings come up while you’re there, you might be eligible to apply and if you’ve done a good job, you’ll have a leg up on the competition.
Temping and Unemployment Insurance
Most states allow you to earn a certain amount of money without your unemployment benefits being affected. In Illinois, you can still receive some benefits if your wages are less than the amount of your benefits. However, if you are on unemployment, you should check with your state’s unemployment office before accepting a temp job.
Although temping might not be a permanent job, it can provide additional income while you’re searching for your dream job and you’ll keep your skills current. Additionally, you might find you like the variety that temping provides.
Temporary employees or “temps” work for agencies that send them to assignments at various companies. Companies use temps for a variety of reasons including special projects, to fill in for vacationing full-time employees, or to try out employees before they offer them a full-time position.
The types of work available for temps run the gamut from factory labor to management and professional positions. Temping is an especially good place for people with office skills, including software and administrative duties, to pick up some extra cash.
The one drawback to temping is that temps only work when there is an assignment available. If no assignments have come in that you are qualified for, you won’t work and won’t get paid. However, I have always believed that all employees are temporary in the sense that they can be fired at the whim of an employer and it is only those working for temp agencies that are smart enough to realize it.
There are advantages to being a temp. Since you know that you’re not going to be there very long, you won’t get pulled in to the office gossip and politics as easily. Seriously, since you’ll be performing different tasks in different places, you’ll keep your job skills current and you’ll be sharp in many different areas, instead of having a job for 10 years doing the same repetitive thing every day. That’s a big advantage during a job interview, if you sell it right. I’ve been able to sell my temp experience as a plus in interviews by stressing the fact that I learned to work in a variety of different situations and had to learn to think on my feet.
As a temporary employee, you will be an employee of the temping agency and will receive your paycheck from them. They will also deduct any necessary taxes and, if applicable, deductions for insurance and other benefits. If they don’t give you a W-2 form to fill out, or if they say you will be an “independent contractor,” think twice about the agency. All legitimate temp agencies will put you on the payroll.
Getting Work
To get work with a temporary agency, you’ll need to sign up with an agency—or a few agencies—and undergo testing and an interview to assess your skills. Although temps have gotten a bad rap by some people as unskilled, most temp agencies thoroughly test skills to make sure all temps they hire are qualified.
An interview with a temp agency should be handled just like an interview for any other position. Dress professionally and handle yourself in a professional manner.
Even if you have a resume, you’ll be asked to fill out an application detailing what type of work you’re looking for, what your skills are, and when you are available to work.
If you are signing up to do administrative work, expect a series of computerized tests to assess your qualifications on various software packages.
After you’ve taken, and hopefully passed, the tests, and been interviewed by a member of the staff, you’ll be given a brief orientation as to how things work at that particular agency. Then you’ll be sent home to wait by the phone until they have an assignment available that you qualify for.
Getting Assignments
The best way to get assignments is to make sure that the temp agency knows your name and knows that you are ready to work. Make sure to check in with your agency at least once a week to see if there is anything available and to make sure they know that you are still interested in working. Make sure to provide them with a cell phone or page number, if available, and make sure you have voice mail so they can always get in touch with you.
But you can call them as often as you want. Don’t be afraid to be a pest. My husband and I have both have gotten assignments from temp agencies that were slated to go to someone else because we called at the right time and were available. Plus, if they keep you working, you won’t call and pester them. Remember, the squeaky wheel gets the grease.
Getting to Work
When you get an assignment, get as much information from the temp agency as possible, including where to go, what time to be there, what hours you’ll be working, and who you’ll be reporting to.
Make sure that you show up on time. Nothing looks worse than a temp employee who cannot even be bothered to show up on time for work. Generally, you’ll report to the front desk and tell them why you are there and who you are there to see.
Once you’ve met your supervisor and been assigned a workstation, double check your hours and what tasks you’ll be doing. If you have any questions, make sure to ask your supervisor for clarification and ask if there is anyone else available that can help you if you run into problems. And then get to work.
Who You Work For
When you are on assignment, do not forget that you work for your temp agency. If you are running late or are not able to report to work, contact your agency and they will contact your supervisor. Clear any vacation time through your agency. If you are on a long-term assignment and have developed a relationship with your supervisor, it’s a good idea to let your supervisor know directly that you’ll be off so that you’re sure they are in the loop. I’ve ended up getting dinged for not showing up because my temp agency knew I was taking off, but hadn’t passed that along to my supervisor.
Make sure to get your time sheet signed every week by your supervisor and make sure to turn it in on time.
Making Contacts
Although every temp assignment probably won’t turn into a full time job, it’s important to make a good impression because if you do a good enough job, your supervisor may call and ask for you by name the next time they need a temp. Additionally, if any full time job openings come up while you’re there, you might be eligible to apply and if you’ve done a good job, you’ll have a leg up on the competition.
Temping and Unemployment Insurance
Most states allow you to earn a certain amount of money without your unemployment benefits being affected. In Illinois, you can still receive some benefits if your wages are less than the amount of your benefits. However, if you are on unemployment, you should check with your state’s unemployment office before accepting a temp job.
Although temping might not be a permanent job, it can provide additional income while you’re searching for your dream job and you’ll keep your skills current. Additionally, you might find you like the variety that temping provides.
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