The world of temps
world,temps
Business woman
Temping has had a rather sad image. Fortunately, gone are the days when no one bothered to learn \'the Temp\'s\' name because they only expected to see the poor drudge for a week or two. The work has also been considerably upgraded from the dreaded mass of filing and now spans a range of professions from general office duties to education, medicine and beyond
Try before you buy
career,workplace,lifestyle,office,stress,sleep,employer,temping,settling in,employment,your_life,work,confidence,self-improvement,try out
Woman
Valuable experience can be gained through temping, as experience is always an advantage when applying for jobs, but for returning-to-work mothers and the newly graduated, this is often missing. It is also useful to fall back on temping during periods of unemployment and to decide whether a certain profession is actually for you before committing to a contract. Best of all, temps can try out a variety of workplaces and jobs while getting paid
Sparkling CV
careers,friends and family
Computer
Have a CV to hand and keep it up to date. The CV is the first thing a recruiter will look at, so it needs to \'sell\' you in the best possible light. Almost every time you take an assignment, you\'ll learn something new. Make sure your CV reflects that and is tailored to the industry you are working in
Recruitment
career,workplace,lifestyle,office,stress,sleep,employer,temping,settling in,employment,your_life,work,confidence,self-improvement,recruitment
career business woman work women friends
The recruiter is your new best friend. One recruitment consultant told me that she sometimes had hundreds of people walk in off the street so they never, ever touted for new temps. Similarly, with so many temps on their books, they don\'t have time to run after you. If you call them regularly, and take the time to drop by the office and make your face known, they\'ll think of you first
Ask questions
career,workplace,lifestyle,office,stress,sleep,employer,temping,settling in,employment,your_life,work,confidence,self-improvement
career business woman work
Don\'t be afraid to ask. \'If you don\'t ask, you don\'t get\' goes the old adage and it couldn\'t be more true. Your consultant may not have thought of you for a role you know you\'ll be perfect in
Be picky
career,workplace,lifestyle,office,stress,sleep,employer,temping,settling in,employment,your_life,work,confidence,self-improvement,picky
career business woman work women thinking
Don\'t feel you have to accept anything you are offered. Check the wage, the length of job and the skills required. Factor in your commuting time. Is it worth it to you? But do remember, if you refuse everything, your recruiter won\'t keep calling, so make your expectations clear and reasonable
Skilled worker
career,workplace,lifestyle,office,stress,sleep,employer,temping,settling in,employment,your_life,work,confidence,self-improvement,skills
career business woman computer
Build up your skills. If you\'re not on assignment, many agencies will let you take IT classes on their premises. It\'s a quick, easy way to learn something new, from typing to spreadsheets and beyond
Attention to detail
career,workplace,lifestyle,office,stress,sleep,employer,temping,settling in,employment,your_life,work,confidence,self-improvement,detail
career business woman work writing
Make the job yours. Assignments are often mis-advertised and some consultants take little care in checking out details. It will never hurt to offer to do more than you\'ve been brought in to do
Plan ahead
career,workplace,lifestyle,office,stress,sleep,employer,temping,settling in,employment,your_life,work,confidence,self-improvement,budget,sick pay,agencies
career business woman laptop computer
Budget. Jobs don\'t always last as long as advertised and you\'ll need cash to cover periods of sickness or without work. Many agencies offer holiday pay for long-term workers, which is a great perk
Respect
careers,money
career business woman computer hand shake work
Have respect for the permanent staff. Their building and jobs may suck, but they are there for good, you\'re not. Similarly, don\'t discuss your wage or get involved in office politics. And it\'s sad to say, but cover your own back. You\'re expendable and the finger of blame will sometimes be pointed at you
Play nice
career,workplace,lifestyle,office,stress,sleep,employer,temping,settling in,employment,your_life,work,confidence,self-improvement,enthusiasm,cheerful,agency
career business woman telephone
Always be enthusiastic and willing to chip in. Employers remember the good ones and good feedback will get you future jobs and better pay. Don\'t be like one temp I knew who insulted every member of staff within a week and reduced two permanent staff members to tears. Needless to say, she was promptly shown the door and the agency never used her again
Foot in the door
career,workplace,lifestyle,office,stress,sleep,employer,temping,settling in,employment,your_life,work,confidence,self-improvement,contacts
career business woman work women friends
Once your foot is in the door, have a look around. Check notice boards and in-house magazines for jobs. Build up your contacts. Learn from your colleagues and find out what they are looking for in permanent employees
