In today’s tough economic climate, finding a good job can be a difficult task. Not only are decent-paying jobs hard to find, but even the jobs that used to go begging are just not as plentiful as they used to be. So, for many who are entering the job market for the first time or after a layoff or downsizing, working for a temp agency can be an attractive prospect. Many people think that it’s at least something to do until a real job comes along. But is that the best way to think about a temporary position? Are there situations in which it might be smarter to keep working for an agency rather than accept a permanent position?
Pay and benefits
The issue of compensation for your work is an important one – it’s the reason we get up and go to work, after all. A temporary job might actually pay a bigger hourly wage than a permanent job. An employer who uses temp agencies has to make the wage high enough to attract good workers, and benefits and other perks don’t have to be factored in. Of course, the reverse is true as well – you won’t get benefits, generally speaking, from a job that you are working through a temp agency. And don’t expect raises either – that’s something you can only get with a permanent job.
Experience and the resume
Working at various jobs for a temp agency is a great way to build up your resume, and to gain some valuable experience. It certainly looks better on your resume than having large blocks of empty time with no jobs at all. However, if you are intent on following a career track, and you have lots of irrelevant experience, you’ll probably want to find a permanent job in your field.
Coworkers and bosses
At a temporary job, you know that you won’t have to be with the same people and have the same boss forever, or at least for a long long time as you would in a permanent position. If you like meeting new people and having new experiences, and you don’t like the idea of being around the same coworkers all the time, a temp agency placement is great. On the other hand, if you want the stability and security that comes with a permanent job, and the same boss and coworkers as well, then that’s the route to take.
Getting stuck or getting secure
Many temporary employees use the temp concept to find a permanent job – they find a place they want to work, and establish a good relationship with the company so that when a permanent job opens up, they will be first in line for consideration. That’s one way to do it, but some like the idea of not getting trapped in a job for the foreseeable future. You can see the temp agency as a way out of a tight spot, or as the way into a secure position – it’s your choice based on what you want.
One thing is certain – the number of temp agencies is growing. Until employment figures come back to pre-recession heights, they will flourish, and they provide good opportunities for the people who can work through them and with them. And who knows, a temporary job can turn into a permanent one in very short order, if that’s what you want.
