How quickly will I get offered temp work?

Butterfliesarepretty

I have joined up with two agencies, daniel adams and forrest recruitment. am also trying to set up my work from home as a copy/audio typist. Have just had my first advert put in four papers for a month. But I want to do clerical temp work on the side or a part time/full time job. I have been applying for jobs anyway but now worried about being offered temp work as I remember at one time when I worked full time our agency staff would get new work the following week when they left, why does this not happen now. I thought being a temp there would be lots of work for me. I am not sure whether the working from home thing will work but I will give a damn good try.

Am I with the wrong agency?

~Beanie~

Ho wlong have you been signed up with them? I have used agencies twice now and on both occasions I had temp work within a week.

Saying that though, there is a recession looming and unfortunately when Companies are cutting costs, temp staff are usually one of the first things that go.

Butterfliesarepretty

Hi,

Only a week been signed up. I only finished work on the 13/11/08. Suppose I am panicking a bit.

DCFC79

Are there any other agencise you could sign up to

ruby_eskimo

I signed up with one a week ago and they said they will get back to me within 2 weeks, so its just a case of waiting it out. If you don't get anything then just contact them after 2 weeks and give them a friendly nudge!

Conor_3

shawtj2 wrote: »

s I remember at one time when I worked full time our agency staff would get new work the following week when they left, why does this not happen now.

All agencies are quiet. It's the worst year I've ever known. It's been going downhill over the last couple of years but at the end of October, it's like someone flicked the off switch.

In the field I do agency work in, they've even put a freeze on recruitment in my area which is unheard of and I've not seen in the 15 years I've had dealings with agencies.

Butterfliesarepretty

Only joined two so far so will join a few more I think.

U4EA_2

Hi shaw,

I am not a regular on these boards and more or less came by this thread by chance but I feel you could benefit from my $0.02...

Sign up with every agency you can find and hassle them until you get something. Phone them daily. Email vacancies from their websites.

I am advising this because I am in a similar boat to yourself. I live in a major city and 1 year ago I started to look for temp work. I have a good CV, good references etc. I signed up with many agencies on their websites and heard almost nothing back from them. Out of 12 agencies, only 1 actually called me. 2 others eventually returned my call and interviewed me. Only one of these 3 actually got me a job. Even after successful interviews with others in which they said I did a great interview and my CV was brilliant and me telling them I woud do ANYTHING in the meantime while I look for a good position, they did almost nothing at all. One of them, a MAJOR agency where I live, took 10 months to get back to me with anything at all. Despite my continual calls and despite a solid interview and them telling me they would easily have me employed in a few weeks. They didn't even realise I was still looking for work when they called me back after the 10 months.

Do not assume once you have registered they will be looking for positions for you. Hassle them constantly or they will forget you exist.

I would recommend HAYS. Their pay is far from great but they seem to be pretty fast in the registration to employment race. And if you are totally stuck for £, rememeber that the Royal Mail take on temp workers to do sorting over the Xmas period. Horrible work and not what you want to do but an option if you are strapped.

Hope this helps and good luck!

Mr U4EA

Sharon87

Yeah, I've been signed up to an Adecco in London, that's the only one I managed to sign up with as no one else was taking on temps at that time. They've got me a few jobs, nothing long term though. Although I was going to have a well paid job (£9/hour!) working for Transport For London, then there was the strike, and suddenly the job disappeared! Giving the rest to the drivers who already earn £25k or more a year!

I usually find if you don't phone them within a few weeks, and they don't phone you, they wont get any jobs for you. You have to keep yourself known to them. The last time I heard from mine was 5th Nov, when I was busy getting my graduation gown! I didn't take the job as I was out of town, and it was rubbish hours and a cleaners job (haven't sunk that low yet lol. no offense to cleaners! I just hate the job for me). Since then nothing. I'm not too fussed though, as I'm working (voluntary, so unpaid) for a Television company working on a BBC2 show , so I don't need them at the minute!

Paparika

Start pestering the agencies (been an agency worker on off for over 10 years).

if you pester them your name will stick in their mind as someone who wants to work, and you need to get something very soon as most agencies tend to give the students work in holiday times.