Temporary Agencies
Finding a job can be stressful, especially in toays economy, where companies are doing away with jobs to cut costs. In this situation, some people turn to temp agencies to help ease the financial burden until they can find more permanent work, but there are both benefits and downsides to working for a temp agency.
Probably the main downside people see in temp work is the instability. Companies need people for a variety of reasons, whether it be to help with a big project or, as in my case, because somebody is out on medical leave. This means that your time at a job could last anywhere between one day and a few months, if not longer. And the time frame can often change in the middle of a job, depending on any number of things, so being told at the beginning that you will be there for two weeks does not always mean you will actually be there for two weeks. Every job is different, so for people who like routine and day to day stability, working for a temp agency can be somewha of a challenge.
The pay rate also varies from job to job, although usually not by much. The next job you work at could pay less than the last one you worked at, which can be hard to swallow for some people. That kind of inconsistency can turn some people away, although most temp agencies do offer a benefits package of some kind. But if you can deal with showing up at different offices and getting different rates of pay every week, then doing temp work should be no problem.
In fact, there are some great benefits to working at a temp agency. In working for all these different companies, there is an opportunity to pick up a wide array of skills in different areas, something which can only help down the road. At one job, you could be answering phones and doing data entry, and the next you could be writing letters to customers and tryig to figure out ow to fix the coffee machine. At a temp job, you never know what kinds of sills you can pick up and how they can help in the future.
You also meet a lot of different people, more than you would working for the same company for years. These people cold mean great networking opportunities in the future or great friendships that last a lifetime. I met my fiance at my secod temp job, and now we have an amazing son and a ridiculously needy and spoiled German Shepard. And you might not anyone but the creepy mail guy who always talks to himself, but at least you'll have fun stories to tell about him at the next job.
Another huge benefit to doing temp work is that occasionally those temporary jobs can lead to a permanent position within the company. It may not be right away, but if the company has an open position a few months down the road, they may remember how hard you worked or how well you fit in.
