The new forums will be named Coin Return (based on the most recent vote)! You can check on the status and timeline of the transition to the new forums here.
The Guiding Principles and New Rules document is now in effect.
The temp jobs thread
Etelmik
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
So, there have been numerous occasions where temp jobs have been mentioned and I want anecdotal information on it. Tell me your friends' stories too.
How much did you get paid, where was it, and what was it you were doing? Those are the most important things.
I heard earlier that a few decent jobs were available that way, like technical writer or copy writer or designer or programmer or whatever. That true?
Or, are most of them just extremely repetitive task-oriented workhouse hellholes, Office Space style, or boring jobs that mainly need a person and you end up with nothing but Internet surfing all day?
How much did you get paid, where was it, and what was it you were doing? Those are the most important things.
I heard earlier that a few decent jobs were available that way, like technical writer or copy writer or designer or programmer or whatever. That true?
Or, are most of them just extremely repetitive task-oriented workhouse hellholes, Office Space style, or boring jobs that mainly need a person and you end up with nothing but Internet surfing all day?
Etelmik on
0
Posts
Generally they pay a little better than minimum wage (10-15 dollars an hour, at the time, 7.75 was min wage here), they can be boring, or they can be fun. The fun jobs usually only go to temps that have put in their time with the agency though. They normally start you off on boring things unless you go in there with a fucking fantastic resume (and if you had that, why not just get a permanent job?). After you do a few jobs, and the agency gets good feedback on you, theyll start sending you to their more high priority clients, which usually means steadier jobs, better pay, better hours, and more interesting work.
All in all, if i lost my job, id probably go back to that agency at least as a start in my job search. Theyre definately a good way to go if you need employment urgently, as youre almost garunteed atleast a few assignments a month, provided youre not a complete fuckup. Theyre also a good way to pad your resume if youre just stepping out into the real world, as youll get experience in a load of different industries, providing whatever agency you go with doesnt specialise.
Plus ive noticed a lot of companies these days are using temp workers as a kind of failsafe way to screen new hires, as if you dont like a temp, you really can fire them at any time for any reason. Even during probation periods here, its still risky to fire someone because you simply "dont like them". With a temp, you can do that no problem.
Check out my band, click the banner.
The problem is, their only office in my area is their world headquarters, and it's a gargantuan affair that just intimidates me to no end whenever I drive past it.
This. Based on my experiences working for several staffing services in Cedar Rapids/Iowa City, Iowa, and Louisville, Kentucky. If you end up with internet surfing all day, you're extremely lucky (not very fulfilling, but better than any assignment I've ever seen). All I got was repetitive crap that any computer-literate person with a high school diploma could do... and sometimes the computer-literacy was even unnecessary. Not hellhole-ish, really, but very morale-sapping if you're looking for any kind of responsibility and potential for advancement. I gained two things from working temp jobs: appreciation for the importance of having and sticking to a decent recordkeeping system, and for a good match between your work style & your supervisor's management style. In every other way, it was a waste of time.
Advice: Use temp jobs only as a backup plan to stretch out your resources while you continue looking for real work.
Kelly is pretty decent, thats where i found my best jobs, but the branch i used stopped being an affiliate and turned into Shannon Human Resources, which is an even better place. Hadji i think you live in toronto, check them out if youre looking for temp work, bar none the best placement agency ive ever been to.
Check out my band, click the banner.