Any Benefit to Temp Agencies?

[Dillon]

So as a lot of you know I’ve been really struggling to find or even get offered a full time job related to my degree and honestly I was ready to give up completely until one of my friends mentioned the other day to try to go through a temp agency.
I don’t know much about temp agencies but I know they help individuals look or even get a job, full time jobs that pay well within their expertise for that matter.
If anyone has gotten employment through a temp agency what are the benefits and downsides to using a temp agency especially for someone who is neurodivergent?

For me I think it would be better than applying in job board where I keep getting rejected after applying and after interviews. 90 application rejections is quite too many for me personally.

 

[Gerontius]

I am currently working with a temp agency that hires people for the vehicle factory outside of town. With enough experience, and enough work, I would be able to roll right over into the permanent workforce at the plant.
They hired me as a repairman because I'm not very friendly or sociable, but I am pretty competent at repairing things.
Unfortunately we are not a union plant as I would love to have things like sick days. We don't. But you can find better jobs sometimes; depends on the company you work for.
Upsides: they are frequently hiring.
Downsides: temp agencies do tend to hire anything that moves, so if you excel, you'll stand out and get a better job. Hey that's an upside!

Go for it.

 

[MC1Rcat]

I think going thru a temp agency can be a good thing. A lot of companies get temps when they are looking for full time employees and haven't found one they like yet. I have known a lot of people who got hired in office jobs because they were temping and the supervisor liked them and hired them full time.

 

[Au Naturel]

So as a lot of you know I’ve been really struggling to find or even get offered a full time job related to my degree and honestly I was ready to give up completely until one of my friends mentioned the other day to try to go through a temp agency.
I don’t know much about temp agencies but I know they help individuals look or even get a job, full time jobs that pay well within their expertise for that matter.
If anyone has gotten employment through a temp agency what are the benefits and downsides to using a temp agency especially for someone who is neurodivergent?

For me I think it would be better than applying in job board where I keep getting rejected after applying and after interviews. 90 application rejections is quite too many for me personally.

I've gotten work thru a temp agency. Be sure to go to one specializing in your field if possible. I don't know about the downside. Some fields don't care, and in others, it would be a potential obstacle. You need to be able to get along with your employer or you won't last long. The benefit is finding work.

 

[VictorR]

Temp agencies basically serve as outsourced HR/recruitment. Since they receive a commission that is paid by the company (e.g. worker gets paid $15/hour while they bill the company $18-22/hour*), they have an incentive to get as many people placed into work as possible.

*(Actual commission markup depends on the job and labour market conditions including but not limited to rarity of the skillset sought in that market for a given position, duration of work, and urgency to fill the position)

Some Pros:
* You would usually do an interview and some tests/assessments with the agency (rather than doing them with each separate company), and they contact you when a potentially suitable job comes up, based on your background, skill set, and any specifications you gave for work location, wage, etc.
* They may have access to jobs not otherwise posted/advertised, including short term opportunities for seasonal work, or coverage for someone on leave.

Some Cons:
* You are an employee of the agency and so may be excluded from company events and/or eligibility for benefits or awards
* If a company decides to keep you for longer than the original agreed duration, they usually have to pay a buyout fee to the agency, and so if the work you're performing is generic in nature, they may not have much of an incentive to do so unless they think you would be staying with them for the medium-long term. There is a flip side to this - that if they do take you on permanently, you'll likely get a raise since they can now pay you a portion of what used to be the commission.
* Turning down too many opportunities may result in them terminating their relationship with you, and so it's best to ensure you be up front with the work you want to do, as well as the work you're realistically willing to do and would accept.

Notes:
Of companies that use temp agencies / recruiters, some might use only one, whereas others may use multiple ones.

 

[Aspychata]

Sometimes you may end up getting a permanent offer of work from a temp assignment. But it's a chance to see if you like working in different industries, and put more viable info on your resume, and a chance to network. Stay in touch with companies you like, if you meet someone who chats with you.

 

[Mary Terry]

What about income tax? Does the temp agency withhold taxes for you from your paycheck? Or do you need to set aside some of your earnings so you can pay your taxes?

 

[Judge]

What about income tax? Does the temp agency withhold taxes for you from your paycheck? Or do you need to set aside some of your earnings so you can pay your taxes?

Indeed, in my own case, the W-2 form I would receive always had the name of the temp agency as my legal employer. I was compensated quite well as a website designer, but a bit miffed that the corporation (you all have heard of) would never formally hire me.

I suspected the cost of healthcare benefits (for someone middle-aged) probably exceeded the cost of dealing with an HR firm specializing in high tech workers. Most of the employees I worked with were in their 20s and 30s.

 

[Magna]

I had a great experience working for a temp agency when I moved to a new city in my younger years.

Advantages I experienced working for a temp agency over just applying for full time jobs on my own at that point in time:

> I got work assignments right away. They were office jobs downtown and normally lasted for a few days to a few weeks. I was getting paid rather than hoping for interview calls.
> The temporary assignments were a great way to get used to being in the workforce in that city.
>The work was simple and not stressful.
>One of the assignments, an Architectural and building firm said they wished they could hire me full time but didn't have a permanent position needed. Point being: Working as a temp is a good way to impress the business you're working at and could very well lead to a full time position. I knew two people who had that actual experience.

Disadvantages:

>Pay is generally pretty low.
>Jobs are...temporary. You might really like a job you're doing and then it's over.
> No benefits.

Overall though, I personally would recommend temp agency work as a means and potential opportunity to something better and more permanent.

 

[NDR2]

Sometimes you may end up getting a permanent offer of work from a temp assignment. But it's a chance to see if you like working in different industries, and put more viable info on your resume, and a chance to network. Stay in touch with companies you like, if you meet someone who chats with you.

That’s what happened with me. I was working temp for a few years at the organization I work for now, and they were pleased with my work. They encouraged me to apply for one of the permanent positions, which I did, and got the job I have now.

That’s another advantage to temp work. If people see your performance and are pleased with it, they may want to hire you permanently. Or at the very least, you may meet some people who’ll be supportive in your search for permanent work, or who can be your references.

 

[Dillon]

I had a great experience working for a temp agency when I moved to a new city in my younger years.

Advantages I experienced working for a temp agency over just applying for full time jobs on my own at that point in time:

> I got work assignments right away. They were office jobs downtown and normally lasted for a few days to a few weeks. I was getting paid rather than hoping for interview calls.
> The temporary assignments were a great way to get used to being in the workforce in that city.
>The work was simple and not stressful.
>One of the assignments, an Architectural and building firm said they wished they could hire me full time but didn't have a permanent position needed. Point being: Working as a temp is a good way to impress the business you're working at and could very well lead to a full time position. I knew two people who had that actual experience.

Disadvantages:

>Pay is generally pretty low.
>Jobs are...temporary. You might really like a job you're doing and then it's over.
> No benefits.

Overall though, I personally would recommend temp agency work as a means and potential opportunity to something better and more permanent.

Honestly I’m not worried about benefits but just a stable income for right now and a career field I can actually set my foot in the door in since I can’t seem to get into one 5 months after graduation. I know quite a bit of agencies in my area pay at least between a range of $15-$20 an hour.

Also nice thing you’ll be avoiding interviews as I struggle with them no matter how good I am or how much I practice.

 

[Judge]

Also nice thing you’ll be avoiding interviews as I struggle with them no matter how good I am or how much I practice.

Me too. I got the best job of my life for a few years as a web designer. Where for my formal interview my future boss spent nearly all the time looking at my online portfolio of websites I created. Since I wasn't taken on as a formal hire, I suppose it made a difference.

Minimizing the whole interview process....what a relief that was! My work was what got me hired....as it should be.

But back in the late 90s, having to pay for my own hospitalization was quite expensive. So being paid well wasn't quite the boon I was hoping for.

 

[Sherlock77]

For the record, I've spent the last three years doing temp work, but in the industrial sector... Some "contracts" have been longer term for several months, some literally "day labour", just one day jobs... I have also in the past done temp work as well

As far as benefits, there are some... It can be quite flexible, take a day off when you want to, in the warehousing sector I've learned some good skills along the way but the contract ended because they just simply didn't need the workers, it doesn't mean you were a bad worker...

Tax? At least for Canada it's the usual tax taken off the pay cheque, I'm likely to get a tax refund, the one issue is that I don't have a benefit package though plus health coverage of course

But on the down side... It's starting to feel like a trap for me now, I would like to get a proper job with an actual company, and when the economy is a little down temp jobs can dry up rather fast...

Sorry I'm rambling a little, hope this all makes sense

 

[Dillon]

Me too. I got the best job of my life for a few years as a web designer. Where for my formal interview my future boss spent nearly all the time looking at my online portfolio of websites I created.

Minimizing the whole interview process....what a relief that was! My work was what got me hired....as it should be.

But back in the late 90s, having to pay for my own hospitalization was quite expensive. So being paid well wasn't quite the boon I was hoping for.

I believe that interviews are such a waste of time from an individual aspect that results in biases.

For instance these employers are basically predicting within a 30-40 minute window of how you would be as a candidate just from talking to you. So you think you know my how life story and how I am as a person in just 30 minutes? So yeah in that case, Interviews tend to provide a brief window to assess a candidate, making it challenging to gauge their long-term potential accurately. That is a potential for inaccurate judgement between the employer and interviewee.

Interviews don’t really give you the ability to actually showcase your skills in a physical hands on aspect in the fact that Interviews may not effectively evaluate specific job-related skills, especially in roles that require practical abilities.
I like to point out as to why am I interviewing for a job where I’m suppose to “talk” to you for 30 minutes when the job mainly requires physical demonstration and less communication?

Interviews tend to be High-pressure events for a lot of people which may not reflect how well a candidate would perform under normal working conditions and I feel employers do this on purpose.

Also and it’s been common of what I hear and also experienced myself that usually employers have already pre-selected someone but they have to go through the “process” to interview everyone that has been referred usually a candidate who has less experience or who is relatively known by the employer and that’s where internal hiring comes in which is literally unfair.

So yeah that’s my gripe about interviews.

 

[Judge]

I believe that interviews are such a waste of time from an individual aspect that results in biases.

For instance these employers are basically predicting within a 30-40 minute window of how you would be as a candidate just from talking to you. So you think you know my how life story and how I am as a person in just 30 minutes? So yeah in that case, Interviews tend to provide a brief window to assess a candidate, making it challenging to gauge their long-term potential accurately. That is a potential for inaccurate judgement between the employer and interviewee.

Interviews don’t really give you the ability to actually showcase your skills in a physical hands on aspect in the fact that Interviews may not effectively evaluate specific job-related skills, especially in roles that require practical abilities.
I like to point out as to why am I interviewing for a job where I’m suppose to “talk” to you for 30 minutes when the job mainly requires physical demonstration and less communication?

Interviews tend to be High-pressure events for a lot of people which may not reflect how well a candidate would perform under normal working conditions and I feel employers do this on purpose.

Also and it’s been common of what I hear and also experienced myself that usually employers have already pre-selected someone but they have to go through the “process” to interview everyone that has been referred usually a candidate who has less experience or who is relatively known by the employer and that’s where internal hiring comes in which is literally unfair.

So yeah that’s my gripe about interviews.

Job interviews reflect "a bane of my existence" over my entire adulthood. Making retirement all that sweeter.

I could always do most any job quite well. But the interview for it was always another matter.

 

[Au Naturel]

Also and it’s been common of what I hear and also experienced myself that usually employers have already pre-selected someone but they have to go through the “process” to interview everyone that has been referred usually a candidate who has less experience or who is relatively known by the employer and that’s where internal hiring comes in which is literally unfair.

When I applied at Lockheed, I already knew I had the job. Got it through a friend of a friend of my landlady who also worked there. Interviewed by a friend of that friend of a friend. That's how it often works in the NT world.

A policy said the job had to be posted for two weeks before hiring, but nothing prevented them from deciding who they wanted before the job was formally opened. A bunch of applications ended up in a shredder somewhere.

 

[paloftoon]

If you receive help where the assistant might be allowed to go with you to certain interviews or such, this could be something. Most places won't consider hiring if you need help with the interview though- but of course they won't say that.
Temp agencies are better than no job at all because at least you have some income. Even if you don't need the income, you can save it for if you do need it later on and you get job experience too, which could help you with getting a future, better job.

 

[Dillon]

If you receive help where the assistant might be allowed to go with you to certain interviews or such, this could be something. Most places won't consider hiring if you need help with the interview though- but of course they won't say that.
Temp agencies are better than no job at all because at least you have some income. Even if you don't need the income, you can save it for if you do need it later on and you get job experience too, which could help you with getting a future, better job.

I actually applied for two agencies in my area where one claimed someone earth this morning would be in touch with me soon to schedule an interview but I haven’t heard anything all day. I feel as though staffing agencies are a scam.

 

[paloftoon]

I actually applied for two agencies in my area where one claimed someone earth this morning would be in touch with me soon to schedule an interview but I haven’t heard anything all day. I feel as though staffing agencies are a scam.

I'm sure there's some truth to that. You can only depend on yourself, but you don't have a lot to lose by working with a temp agency or more than one if you have no job at all.

 

[VictorR]

I actually applied for two agencies in my area where one claimed someone earth this morning would be in touch with me soon to schedule an interview but I haven’t heard anything all day. I feel as though staffing agencies are a scam.

Sometimes things come up and people get busy with other clients / tasks, or something personal (sick).

Perhaps give them a couple days and send a follow-up?