what type of temp jobs will I expect from Agency?

cyberstar

I currently have a well targeted CV ready to apply for an admin/office/data entry job. I will attend my local agency Reed this week to sign up to look for work.

Although, I assume there will already be many applicants on their books right now so, how likely do you think I will get a temp job in admin right now?

has anyone found any success in getting admin work through agency recently?

Otherwise, what type of temp jobs will I expect from Agency, if any?

CCFC_80

Incredibly difficult to find an admin job - may get offered telemarketing/telesales which is not everyones cup of tea. I am in the same position looking for temp admin employment, however good luck and hope you find something !

virgo149

cyberstar wrote: »

Otherwise, what type of temp jobs will I expect from Agency, if any?

Sorry to say it but very few if any at the moment. I have temped on and off for about 10 years now. I am a very experienced PA/Secretary but am happy to do anything. I have sadly never known it so quiet and have only had a little work in the last 2 months. The phone has finally rung today with an offer for longer term plus have another in the pipeline.

All I can suggest is get yourself out there - register with all the agencies you can as employers do stick to their favourites (or those whose terms are better). Check the internet daily, ring the agencies weekly (not more or they will get fed up with you). Be flexible - get yourself a good name and they will think of you first. It's always worked for me.

Good luck!

Deep_In_Debt

Yep, I got a temp admin job via Reed at a good hourly rate too. 8 months later, still with them and at the same company. I'm an experienced PA too. I guess it depends where you live in the country but looking at the Reed website in my area, there are quite a few admin/office jobs going but they all have about 100 applications.

Good luck.

cyberstar

Deep_In_Debt wrote: »

Yep, I got a temp admin job via Reed at a good hourly rate too. 8 months later, still with them and at the same company. I'm an experienced PA too. I guess it depends where you live in the country but looking at the Reed website in my area, there are quite a few admin/office jobs going but they all have about 100 applications.

Good luck.

you must feel really lucky, since every admin job gets about 100 applicants. I live in London, so I guess no chance for me.

I'm wondering if there be lots of catering jobs then as that is my only other option.

Berkshiregirl

If you're looking for work, my advice would be to sign up with more than just Reed, although they are large.

Adecco, Blue Arrow, Manpower and Huntress are all worth a go - the more you contact, the greater your chances are.

el_gringo_3

Are you male or female? Over the past few years me and the OH have found that even with our very similar C.V's we get offered vastly different jobs from agencies. Her advice is if your female and looking for admin above reception/pa work dye your hair brown (if it isnt already) and go for a librarian type look, if your looking for reception go with a shorter skirt and blond hair, and for sales and marketing wear a suit.

Also if you have a heavy regional accent thats different to the one local to you, you might want to consider making most of your first approaches by email. Job agencies are complete a holes for stereotyping people, basically. Blue Arrow were the best we found for taking a different approach.

Pee

Our company used to employ temps on a fairly regular basis, but in the last year, we don't even have temps for holiday cover...

cyberstar

el_gringo wrote: »

Are you male or female? Over the past few years me and the OH have found that even with our very similar C.V's we get offered vastly different jobs from agencies. Her advice is if your female and looking for admin above reception/pa work dye your hair brown (if it isnt already) and go for a librarian type look, if your looking for reception go with a shorter skirt and blond hair, and for sales and marketing wear a suit.

Also if you have a heavy regional accent thats different to the one local to you, you might want to consider making most of your first approaches by email. Job agencies are complete a holes for stereotyping people, basically. Blue Arrow were the best we found for taking a different approach.

I am male. So does that mean I'm less likely to get an admin job unless I'm female?

sexki11en

virgo149 wrote: »

Sorry to say it but very few if any at the moment. I have temped on and off for about 10 years now. I am a very experienced PA/Secretary but am happy to do anything. I have sadly never known it so quiet and have only had a little work in the last 2 months. The phone has finally rung today with an offer for longer term plus have another in the pipeline.

All I can suggest is get yourself out there - register with all the agencies you can as employers do stick to their favourites (or those whose terms are better). Check the internet daily, ring the agencies weekly (not more or they will get fed up with you). Be flexible - get yourself a good name and they will think of you first. It's always worked for me.

Good luck!

Excellent advice :T . I wish I had more temps like you! OP, if you follow the above advice, you will be offered what there is.

Sadly, the others are right, there isn't a lot of temp admin work out there (it's what I provide) and even the best candidates in the world are struggling right now. However, if you have the right attitude and are reliable, you should get offered all the work that comes in.

Good luck and register with as many agencies as you can to spead your net.

SK x

honeypop

I am surprised at this lack of work available for admin temps, I had to arrange cover for me while I am on Maternity Leave, my position was Office Manager but the temp would be working on general day-to-day admin, making travel arrangements for staff, basic HR such as recording annual leave, sickness etc, basic finance such as logging invoices received and arranging payment. The role was for 7 months, for 3-5 days a week depending on what the candidate could do, and I expected to receive a LOT of CVs from the agencies.

What I got was maybe 10 CVs in total, not one of which was for anyone with office admin experience covering more than say 60% of what the job description/person spec covered. I honestly thought there would be loads of people with all these basic skills and experience looking for this type of role, especially as the days were flexible, but maybe it was the 7 month contract that put them off.