Advice on Agency/Temping work???

Chrysalis

I have also seen very good agencies I dont want to give wrong impression from some bad agencies I seen.

klondyke

I'm retired now, but spent most of my working life as a temp. It can be good fun - and if it's not, tell the agency so you can jump ship as soon as possible (but don't jump before letting people know how you feel!)

If you have a specialist skill, try to find a matching specialist agency. I was mainly in information - libraries, databases etc. In those days, very few people could use a computer so I was laughing! I too worked mainly for solicitors, accountants and surveyors - always be willing to give them a try, as they are always needing people. The bigger the company, the more likely they will need temps, eg to cover maternity leave - so it could be worth approaching them direct with a CV.

If you are any good, you will probably be asked to stay on - new mums don't always come back. Once you are established with an agency - again, if you are any good, using initiative etc, - you will rarely be out of a job unless you want to be (for school hols etc)

Good luck!

happyformonths

Hi,

I've had a variety of experience with, oooh *counts* - about 7 different agencies over the last 12 years (since I was 19). I've mainly done office work, but did do some "factory/catering" work before I'd had office experience.

I think temping is great - okay, you get some of the crappier work sometimes, but if you leave your ego at home, and remember that the reason you're temping is because you're NOT actually in that dead-end job but you are heading for something better, it's fine. And yes, not being bogged down in office politics is a HUGE bonus (and yes people from all sides of any argument do confide in you! very amusing and interesting).

The money can be rubbish, but it can also be relatively good - it all depends on how you sell yourself and what skills you have - and how professional you are.

Temping suits my personality because I get bored VERY easily and hate feeling tied to any one place. I always know I can leave with only a few days' notice if need be. (Legally you don't need to give any notice, but I don't like to leave them up the creek.) A couple of times I've got permanent jobs through temping too, so if you do find somewhere you like, it makes a hell of a difference if they already know you and what you can do. No interviews!

Whoever said you don't get good and bad agencies, just good and bad consultants - I'd tend to agree up to a point, as when I was younger I worked for Blue Arrow in two very different parts of the country and on two different kinds of jobs, and found them very rude and unpleasant in one place and very helpful and great in the other.

Overall, though, I do think Reed are a bit of a cut above. I'm working for them at the moment, and the benefits are very good - you do get a lot of "extras", and they are very professional (as you'd expect from a big agency). They also have national contracts with certain places so whenever that organisation needs a temp they HAVE to go through Reed - other agencies have these too (someone mentioned Randstad, who I also contacted in Bristol, but after 3 contacts they still hadn't given me any response so I gave up) so investigate who has what if you're interested in any particular area of work (public sector, type of work the company does, charities, universities, whatever).

One bit of advice I'd give is that if you haven't got any experience and you're just starting out, you should probably take whatever work you're offered (within reason - you can always say no if you object to, say, working for the BNP or something, as I personally would!) BUT as your stock rises and if you know you're worth a bit more, hold your nerve if they try and pressure you to take rubbish work. Remember it's always up to you - consultants generally work on commission so they will pressure you, but the beauty of temping is that the choice is ultimately yours as to what you take. As long as you don't keep turning *everything* down - then they'll just stop ringing you. They need to know you're valuable, before you can pick and choose a lot.

Sound them out when you meet them about how much work there is - if it's really quiet they will tell you, and you will probably have to be less choosy when things are offered, but if there's lots of work they'll probably tell you that too and you can be more confident about not necessarily taking the first thing that's offered.

It really all depends on your situation.

Just as a final note about London agencies, I'd highly recommend Prospect Temps (I think their website is https://www.prospect-us.co.uk) - they're in Bloomsbury and only deal with charities and universities etc (ie non-profit places) AND their consultants don't work on commission so you don't get that pressure to take anything. The rates of pay are quite good too. I've had some great jobs through them, and even worked in their own office for a bit. If I still lived in London I would definitely work for them.

Anyway, this is becoming very long - I hope somewhere in there there's something useful for you. Good luck with it all!

HFM

urban_spirit

Hi All and thanks for all your replies - i'm learning so much!

Klondyke - How do you find a matching specialist agency? Are there particular companies or areas of business that use one agency???

I Would love to work in a library initially or somewhere similar. Amongst other things I have a programming qualification and have worked around I.T. (before anyone knew what I.T. was!), i've been a corporate trainer and a executive manager.

I do come with all that (and more), and a disabiliy that limits some of that.
At the moment, a quiet, uncomplicated job would be important - can I say this or will they think i'm taking the ...er....liquid!.


Happyformonths - The money can be rubbish worries me! I'm not sure what wages to expect, but I have to pay my bills cos there's just me paying them! Do you know when youre offered jobs whether it pays ok or not???
I cant take everything as I have a disability but I intend to try and deal with as much as possible without compromising this, but there will be somethings I will ahve to say no to. Will this be a problem - eg. will they see this as me just refusing things?

Prospect Temps do sound good, unfortunately i'm in the north west. Does anyone know of any similar agencies in the NW to Prospect?

After working in permenant jobs for 20+ years - and always getting the first job I interview for - this is me, feeling like a fish out of water !!!
Initially I would like to temp until I find something permanent but I guess if this suits me I will stick with it.
It will be a refreshing change to be able to walk away from something that doesnt work anymore.

Will I have any problems cos i'm in my early 40's?? It just occured to me the other day when reading someone else's experiences of jobhunting at 40+. I'm strongly of the belief that age does not matter one jot.

Many thanks

seven-day-weekend

Hi there, just a couple of questions from me.

I live in Spain at the moment, but when I return to the UK in a couple of years I'll be about 58. I've had office jobs for most of my working life and have all the office skills. However, most of my work has been in customer services. I can (and do) type letters, but my typing would not be good enough to do reports, minutes , inserting graphs, things like that (if I had anything of this nature to do I sent it to the typing pool).

My last job was in Town Planning, I was an Enforcement Technician (again, mainly customer services) and I have a qualification in town planning.

Now, my question is this: If I returned to the UK and wanted some temping work, would I be a) too old and b) wrong sort of experience. I wouldn't care if they gave me filing to do for a month, just would need to earn a bit of money, although obviously I would prefer customer services.

Thanks in a dvance for your replies.

happyformonths

urban_spirit wrote:

Happyformonths - The money can be rubbish worries me! I'm not sure what wages to expect, but I have to pay my bills cos there's just me paying them! Do you know when youre offered jobs whether it pays ok or not???
I cant take everything as I have a disability but I intend to try and deal with as much as possible without compromising this, but there will be somethings I will ahve to say no to. Will this be a problem - eg. will they see this as me just refusing things?

Sorry, didn't mean to worry you. It sounds as if, with your experience, you should get a decent rate (and that you should INSIST on a decent rate, more the point). You can tell what the going rates tend to be for particular types of jobs by looking at what jobs agencies are advertising. Even if these aren't "real" (which by the way I KNOW happens as well, Chrysalis is right) they will give you an idea of what the pay is. I'm not sure how things are in the northwest right now so I can't give you an idea - best off having a look yourself.

As for your disability, I would imagine that most agencies will deal with you in a fair and decent way, and make a certain allowance for the fact that you might need to turn down more jobs than if you didn't have the disability. (Employers are now actually obliged to make "reasonable adjustments" as I expect you know, but I'm not sure how this would apply in practice to a recruitment consultant offering you work. Hopefully they are flexible.) I'm sure that if they know your situation, they will not think you're just refusing things for the sake of it.

urban_spirit wrote:

Prospect Temps do sound good, unfortunately i'm in the north west. Does anyone know of any similar agencies in the NW to Prospect?

I'm afraid I don't, but you could try contacting e.g. the big universities up there and asking what agency they use for temps. And the same for the councils (who run the public libraries) and any big charities you can think of. I bet the same name/s will keep coming up.

urban_spirit wrote:

After working in permenant jobs for 20+ years - and always getting the first job I interview for - this is me, feeling like a fish out of water !!!

It sounds like you will do brilliantly - agencies love people who present themselves well and have loads of experience. You will be fine. And keep pushing them for a decent hourly rate, quoting your years of experience!

urban_spirit wrote:

Will I have any problems cos i'm in my early 40's?? It just occured to me the other day when reading someone else's experiences of jobhunting at 40+. I'm strongly of the belief that age does not matter one jot.

Again, I would think that actually this should go in your favour. I also believe that age shouldn't matter, but I have certainly had experience that I've done *less* well because of being young (not so much as I age, lol). I know some unscrupulous employers discriminate against people on grounds of age (amongst other things) but I think in temping, it's a bonus. You will be assumed to be more "reliable and trustworthy", I bet.

Well, better get on and get to work!

HFM
PS I forgot to answer your specific question: whether you are told the rate of pay when you are offered the job. In my experience, unfailingly YES, they tell you so you can decide whether to take it or not. When you register with the agency they will ask you the minimum hourly rate you're prepared to accept, so be ready for this. They may still offer you work that's a bit below that, but don't feel you have to take it (like I said before). Do your research and hold your ground about what you're worth.

lswwong

Just a quick message from me re age

It's the attitude that counts!

I have come across and worked with older temps/employees. The funky, young at heart ones are totally brilliant as they bring with them maturity and insight.

I have also come across really moany ones who brought "issues" with them. That's all I am gonna say about them!!!

On the whole, firms want to have people who are "good to have around". A happy, cheerful persona, irrespective of age, will be to one's advantage.

seven-day-weekend

lswwong wrote:

Just a quick message from me re age

It's the attitude that counts!



On the whole, firms want to have people who are "good to have around". A happy, cheerful persona, irrespective of age, will be to one's advantage.

Sound like me then!:T :beer: :j :rotfl:

lswwong

seven-day-weekend wrote:

Sound like me then!:T :beer: :j :rotfl:

Smashing!

The world needs more happy people

happyformonths

Seven-day-weekend - I believe there is quite a lot of work available in customer services (I always seem to be having to avoid it when I start a spate of temping!). I think in your case too, your age wouldn't go against you at all. I'm sure in customer services maturity and authority on the phone is an advantage. (Not that NO young people have these of course, but you know what I mean.)

Just my feeling, as I don't really know about customer services specialists, but I know I've seen a lot advertised.

And you know what? I've got a feeling that more and more customer services jobs are going to be (re)created in the UK in the next couple of years as the backlash against overseas call centres grows. Seriously, I know of more and more people leaving their banks or stopping using services simply because they can't stand to be put through to a foreign country. For whatever reason. I do think that certain companies will begin to suffer and change back to UK workers. (Again, only my feeling though.)

Good luck to everyone.

HFM