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One benefit of temping is that an agency finds you jobs. But to be successful at the temp life, your role must go far beyond taking calls from recruiters and showing up for assignments prepared. Adopt a professional attitude, and you'll get the temp gigs you really want.
Check out these 10 insider tips on temping best practices you need to know:
Specify Jobs You Want
Be clear on what you want to do and why. "Have a detailed conversation with a recruiter so they know your ‘best assignment' criteria," says Charles Jones, vice president of process/operations for talent and outsourcing firm Yoh. This helps reps place you more effectively, which in turn makes their jobs easier and them look good.
Shop Smart
Consider a variety of agencies -- even if the first one you meet with seems great. "It is appropriate to search for the best fit of personalities in order to find a recruiter who (you) are glad to work with and feel will work for you," says Selwyn Leung, a recruiting manager at Acro Service, a provider of outsourcing and staff augmentation services.
Juggle Agencies Carefully
Many temps work with multiple agencies. "Be open and honest with each agency you are working with, and let all agencies know that you do work with a couple of other firms," says Bri Pang, an account executive with tech staffing agency Outsource Technical. "Each agency may ask you to keep their client's information confidential from the other agencies, which should always be respected."
Keep in Touch with Your Reps
"If a recruiter submits a candidate, that candidate should notify the other recruiter in order to avoid being submitted twice for the same position," Leung says. Not doing this can make both reps look bad, which could translate into not being promoted for assignments. Plus, some organizations automatically disqualify a candidate submitted multiple times.
Leverage Technology
"I set up reminders to ensure I have enough time to fill out the time card and to, even more importantly, get it signed," says contract application analyst Darren Reinhardt. "The employer also sees this as responsible, and they start perceiving you as a consistent employee. This helps when being considered for permanent work."
Stay Organized
Create a folder with copies of each time card and any other important information. "I bring this to work with me every day and use it to file copies of time cards, contact info, fax numbers and so on," Reinhardt explains.
Take Charge of Your Career
"Being a contract employee is not about just sitting and waiting for the phone to ring with the next assignment," Leung points out. "If you complement being proactive with having a detailed and professional resume, you will be geared for success."
Learn How to Say No
You may feel like refusing an assignment, but you don't want to be on your agency's blacklist, either. "It's OK to say no to an assignment, as long as the temp worker reaffirms their commitment to work with that recruiter on anything else and to keep the relationship strong," Pang says. The recruiter should be talking to the client for you, but at a minimum, let the recruiter be the first to know you've said no -- before you say anything directly to the client.
Be Mature About Mistakes
If you mess up on the job, take immediate action, starting with calling your rep. "Taking ownership is so important, and I think it will help the rep to maintain confidence in you," Reinhardt says. "Then be willing to accept feedback and not make excuses. The rep needs to know you will represent the company well."
Let Your Rep Help You -- Out, If Necessary
As much as you might like to run screaming from the building, the best way to handle a bad assignment is through your rep. "Let your recruiter know first before going straight to the client and complaining," Pang advises. "Recruiters act as a great buffer and will, in most cases, be able to rephrase the request in a way that will make the temp's desires happen for them with the client." The rep can also get you reassigned if necessary.
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