Author: Jojo Varona
Temping is a great way to earn some money while you are in-between jobs and other commitments. It is also a great way to learn about how different companies and industries work which can sometimes lead to full-time employment. In the 23 years that I have been at The Job Shop, I have seen many candidates who started temping (and doing excellent work) who’ve been noticed by their supervisors and offered a permanent position.
Here are a few tips for how to make the most of a temporary assignment.
Be on-time and professional. It seems simple, right? But this applies to any job, temp or not.
Arrive on time or better yet, arrive a few minutes early and get situated at your desk before your time begins.
Adhere to the office dress code.
Submit your timesheet on time. Make sure that you correctly input your time in and time out and mark on the timesheet when you left for your scheduled breaks.
Be courteous and friendly.
Smile often and be on good terms with everyone you meet. Oftentimes temps feel they get treated differently from full-time workers or they feel that they are not treated as part of the team. The best way to deal with this is to be friendly, do good work, and be reliable to whoever is working with you.
Be Flexible.
Don’t say, “That isn’t in my job description”. If you finish a task early, ask for more. Or ask if there is anything else that needs to get done. Every new duty you take on, makes you more indispensable. It is also a great way for you to learn new skills, and sometimes meet even more people in the office, who might be of great help to you in the future.
Meet New People.
Meeting new people is always helpful when you are looking for work. This is a great way to build your network. The more people in your network, the more connections you have to other companies and other opportunities. While you are in your assignment, every colleague or supervisor is someone who can potentially refer you to another temp job or full-time role.
Acquire new skills.
Take the opportunity to learn new skills while you are in your temp assignment which will make you more marketable in your next position. There may be new software that you have not used before or a new skill to acquire. Already knowing the skills and software necessary will put you in a much better place to be hired.
Communicate with your agency.
Give us feedback on the assignment. Let us know how you like the job and if you would like us to consider you for any long-term roles in the company be sure to communicate that. The more we know what is going on with you and the assignment, the more we can help.
Keep these tips in mind on your next temp job and you will be one step closer to meeting your employment goals.
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