For Job Seekers: Working Effectively with a Temporary Staffing Agency 

Adopting the temporary work approach has many advantages, besides settling bills. It allows you stay up-to-date with your skills, and gives you the opportunity of having an inside track leading to a permanent job. Furthermore, temporary work extends your network while helping you advance in experience with your employers.

Engaging a staffing agency that focuses on temporary roles provides job seekers access to numerous opportunities and gives recruiters access to hiring companies.

Lack of understanding the complexities of the relationships between staffing agencies and employers can lead to misunderstanding. We have put together a few tips to guide you on how best to work with a staff agency on your temporary job search.

Know Who Your Employer Is
When you sign a contract or assume a temp position through a staffing agency, they are in principle your employer. Even though, you may report to a manager or supervisor at the company, you will be on the payroll of the staffing agency and your benefits will be paid by the staffing agency. Many first-time temps may find this puzzling. Many firms use staffing agencies particularly because they are established to handle the complex pay (and benefit) structure of contract employees.

Know Who Your Employer’s Employer Is

Staffing firms are employed, and paid, by organizations that are searching for employees and require help finding them. Hence their key objective is to source satisfactory talent for their clients – and not employment for their candidates. Understanding the recruiter’s core motivation can help maintain a positive relationship.

 

Know What Your Agency Expects

A proficient recruiter, working with you, will establish expectations regarding feedback, communication and processes sending out your resume and arranging interviews.