Using Temporary Work as a Way to Get Discovered

Companies of all sizes and in virtually every industry throughout the world use temporary employees for positions requiring higher-level skills. If you're the sort of person who doesn't take to new surroundings and new people very easily, you may not be well suited to short-term assignments. But if your personality lends itself to working on a variety of projects and in different jobs, temporary work can become a job-seeking strategy unto itself. For some job hunters, in fact, getting temporary work assignments represents the single most productive strategy for finding a full-time job. According to industry statistics, 38 percent of temporary workers today have been offered full-time jobs at companies where they were on assignment.

If you're not convinced that temporary employment represents a job search strategy worth your serious consideration, consider the following ways that it can help you in your job search.

• Easing financial pressure: With less financial pressure, you can afford to be more selective about the kinds of job leads you pursue and the offers you accept. At higher levels, you can often match or exceed the salary for the full-time equivalent of the position.

• Developing a clearer sense of your job targets: As with internships, temporary assignments frequently give you access to companies where you wouldn't otherwise be able to get a foot in the door. If you're not really sure about "what you want to be when you grow up," you can do yourself a big favor by postponing decisions about a full-time job until you have a chance to sample a variety of different work experiences through temporary assignments.

• Beefing up your qualifications: Many temporary assignments give you work experience that makes you a much stronger candidate for full-time employment. This experience can be especially valuable if you have a one-dimensional resume — that is, you have spent most of your career doing pretty much the same job for the same company — and you want to shift career gears.

• Expanding your network: Temporary or project work, as it is often called, is one of the best — and easiest — tools for expanding your network. Each temporary assignment puts you into the trenches with people you probably wouldn't otherwise get a chance to meet. And if you're on assignment in the field in which you eventually want to end up, you get a chance to observe and learn from those who are successful.

If networking is one of your goals, look for shorter assignments that give you more exposure to more companies. However, if you come across a great company and opportunity, let your temporary service know that you would like to work there as long as possible, and eventually in a full-time capacity.

• Keeping your morale high: The mere fact that you're getting up in the morning, getting dressed, going to work, and spending your day being productive (and getting paid for it) is one of the most reliable ways to keep up your morale during your job search.

Choosing the appropriate temporary service

If your goal is to turn a temporary assignment into a full-time position, the nature of temporary assignments available at the firm you're considering becomes critical — as do the companies you may be assigned to. If this is the case, you obviously want to find a service that specializes in the type of job you're looking for and, even better, that already has relationships with companies for which you would like to work. Use these suggestions to help you make the best choice:

• Evaluate the company's reputation and stability: Find out how long the service has been in business. Call trade associations that relate to the service's specialty area for input. Try your local chamber of commerce, too.

• Get a personal recommendation: Some of the most reliable sources of information about temporary help services are people you know who have actually worked with one or more services.

• Call companies that are likely to use temporary employees: Simply call the appropriate department in one of the large companies in your city (ideally, a company that you would like to work for on a full-time basis). Explain to the person who answers the phone that you're thinking of signing up with a temporary help firm and that you would appreciate it if he or she could recommend one or provide the names of services that the company uses. If the person can't help you, he or she may be able to direct your call to the person who does work with them.

• Analyze the Sunday classifieds: Study the ads for several consecutive Sundays. Focus on the specific jobs being offered, and favor firms that offer specific jobs over those that simply invite you to come on down and sign up.

• Check out the Yellow Pages: Checking out the Yellow Pages is the least effective way to make a value judgment, but at least you'll find some names. Don't get discouraged if you can't find any firms listed under the heading "Temporary." Most Yellow Pages group all full-time and part-time employment services under the heading "Employment Agencies" or "Employment Contractors — Temporary Help."

• Surf the company's Web site: Visit the company's Web site. Is it attractive, easy to navigate, and technically up-to-date? Does it allow you to conduct customized job searches? Will it automatically inform you electronically of new openings that match your job search criteria?

• Call or visit the firm in person: Don't hesitate to call or pay a personal visit to the temporary help services you are considering. Pay attention to how the phone is answered and, if you go there personally, to the surroundings. A good time to visit the firm is on payday (assuming that you can find out which day of the week it is). That way, you can meet some of the temporary employees who already work for the service.

Juggling your temporary job and your job search

While working on a temporary assignment, you need to adjust to your job search program. For example, you may have to do your library research in the evenings and schedule job interviews for early morning or after work. Your biggest obstacle will be phone calls during working hours. As a temporary employee, you should never make job-related calls on company time or on company phones. Make the calls you need during lunchtime on a public telephone outside company offices.