Temporary agencies hire everyone from general laborers to engineers. In this article, an expert tells you how to improve your chances for getting hired.
Temporary employment agencies are invaluable in today’s employment market. Some employees use temporary agencies to help provide them with an income during a career transition. Others may use agencies to help hone their skills, or as a means of potentially securing a more permanent position. No matter your reason for seeking work through a temporary agency, there are certain guidelines you will need to follow in order to get hired.
In an interview with Suite 101, Kevan Ford, Branch Manager of the Elyria Office of The Reserves Network, stated that potential employees err by not approaching the temporary agency as a potential employer. Ford says that many candidates assume that employment with a temporary agency is somewhat “guaranteed”, or that they are similar to that of a non-profit agency that is in the business of helping people find jobs. On the contrary, Ford states that they are much like any other corporation. “We are a business seeking to hire quality, solid workers,” he says.
In order to be prepared for a meeting with a temporary agency, Ford makes the following suggestions.
- Dress properly. Don’t wear t-shirts, flip flops, or other inappropriate clothing. Instead dress as you would for an interview.
- Bring a resume with you along with your work history. This should include addresses, phone numbers and contact names for previous employers. Make sure the information is accurate because the interviewer will need to call for references.
- Don’t bring others with you when you come to apply for a job at the agency. This is true even if you have a friend who is also looking for a job. Instead it is more appropriate to schedule separate appointments at different times.
- Know your skill set and be prepared to communicate to the interviewer what type of work you desire and most importantly what type of work you can do.
- Know how far you’re willing to travel and/or the area of town you most desire to work in. Don’t say you can drive somewhere that you cannot because it’s not favorable for you when you are called and then unable to accept the assignment.
- Know what pay range you expect; in other words, what is the minimum salary you will accept.
- Bring 2 forms of identification with you. One should be a driver’s license or state identification, along with another form of identification. The agency cannot hire you without proper identification.
As the manufacturing industry continues to change, temporary agencies fill a great need for light industrial and manufacturing workers. This includes part sorters, skilled workers, hi-lo drivers, welders and the like. Nevertheless, as technology and health care is also quickly changing, temporary agencies have also found a niche in placing accountants, engineers, software specialists and even medical professionals such as nurses and dental assistants.
