Are staffing agencies worth it?

November 11, 2014 4:55 PM

I've never dealt with a staffing/temp agency before and it seems like I've mostly read negative things about them. However, I'm wondering if they'd be a good service to use while I look for a job in my "real" field.

Like I said above, most of what I've read about staffing/temp agencies seems to be rather negative (and all of their websites look so scammy/poorly designed to me). If I were to use a staffing agency I'd be looking for some sort of admin/clerical assignment (if possible). There's one that's having some sort of "fair" tomorrow and I'm not sure if it'd be worth it to go or not.

Currently I'm working retail, which is okay but I'm just really bored and I feel like I've outgrown the position. I just finished a paraprofessional library program in June and I've been looking for library jobs, but it's been sort of slow. Although, I have been interviewing for them. I figured looking into a temp agency might be a good way to develop admin skills and maybe keep working in that field if libraries doesn't work out for me (knowing what I know now, I might have chosen a different field, but it's too late). I'm kind of hesitant though, is it better to stick with the retail job (the devil I know) and keep plugging away at finding a library job (and maybe apply to admin ones here and there)? Or could a temp agency be worth it? Any advice would be welcome.

posted by modesty.blaise to Work & Money (17 answers total)

I think a temp agency CAN be worth it. While they take a big 'chunk' of your pay, they can help you find a job quickly and possibly change positions if you don't like the first one. I had good luck with getting a job within a week during a couple summers during college. Both jobs offered me full time positions.

While working in pharma, entry level positions were OFTEN filled with temp agencies. Again, a lot of people were offered full time positions and sometimes with a promotion.

That being said maybe ask about all the positions you'd be qualified for in your area. Maybe something will strike your fancy and somehow play to your library skills! There is a (small) chance you could find a career or rockin company you stick with for several years.
posted by Kalmya at 5:14 PM on November 11, 2014

In my experience, yes. I've worked for a few, including some of the huge ones, and they treated me well.

The owner of a small staffing agency remembered me after assigning me a handful of times about 8-9 years ago, spruced up my customer service and barista resume, got me a spot as a replacement when someone didn't work out, and politely goaded them to hire me. They did, and I still can't quite believe that things worked out so well for once!

Fifty years ago, there were clerk, typist, steno pool jobs for people who wanted something to get them in the door. I think temp agencies have largely taken over that role-- not just in terms of similar duties (for tasks that aren't obsolete) but also in the way in which many/most companies are reluctant to train and try people out. Temping gives you someone to vouch for you and for entry-level jobs can cut through the stacks of applications and get you a chance much more quickly.
posted by notquitemaryann at 5:25 PM on November 11, 2014

I've also had good experiences with a temp agency. The one I worked with placed me in a good longish-term position that eventually turned into a job offer. At my current workplace, we often pay the fee to hire temps as full-time permanent employees. So in addition to being a good way to make connections, make money, keep your resume active and learn more skills, temp gigs can sometimes turn into permanent jobs.

I think you should definitely pursue temp work while you continue to look for a "real" job. I'd try to ask around (or ask here) for recommendations for good temp agencies in your city, though, to maximize your chances of a good experience.
posted by aka burlap at 5:50 PM on November 11, 2014

It can be awful and you will get lied to constantly.

That said, for all the reasons above, there's really no reason to not give it a shot. Though they skim of your hourly rate (if you're getting $20/hr, the agency is billing the company 30-40), in a literal sense there is no cost to you, since no reputable agency ever charges fees to applicants.
posted by drjimmy11 at 5:59 PM on November 11, 2014

I currently have a job that I got through a temp agency, and while it admittedly took them a while to find me one, they treated me well throughout the process. I'd been looking for another job for a long while, and this one gives me a chance to brush up on my skills while I continue looking for a 'real' job. It's a long term job, and the pay is decent.

I will say that I applied to a lot of agencies before striking gold with my current one. Overall, though, I see no reason why you shouldn't pursue temp work while also looking for a library job.
posted by supermassive at 6:04 PM on November 11, 2014

Dont sign any non compete clauses with them or shorten it to less than 6 months (or less). Also negotiate your salary and other bonus etc. Don't go with the first thing they offer you. They take a HUGE cut out of your pay so dont be afraid to ask.
posted by jellyjam at 6:19 PM on November 11, 2014

Thanks for all the advice, guys. I think I'll just go there with an open mind tomorrow and see what they have.

This leads me to another quick question, which might sound really stupid, but how would you balance a temp job and job interviews. Usually all my interviews have been on my days off/afternoons before I start an evening shift. What's the best way to go about that in the 9-5 world when you're temping? That's another thing that makes me feel a bit hesitant!
posted by modesty.blaise at 6:27 PM on November 11, 2014

Hi - pretty much most of my adult life I've made my living via temp assignments.

Recently I was balancing temping and job interviews (until I realized I wanted to actually work full time AT the place I'm temping), and it was fine with them - I mean, they assume you're looking for full-time work, and part of that involves going on job interviews, so there you go. Just work with the place where you're temping to make sure you schedule them at a decent time (i.e., if you know your boss needs you on hand for a major meeting on a given day, don't schedule a job interview at that same time), and it's usually cool. I would try to schedule things at either the beginning or end of the day, or during a lunch break, and I'd make sure to let them know 'so, I may be a half hour late tomorrow morning because I have an interview" and they were fine.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:05 PM on November 11, 2014

I don't really understand the comments that they skim off your salary - this is misleading. Yes, they generally bill their client 2x what you as the employee are getting paid, but they aren't taking any of that money from the emplyee. They are selling their services and their clients determine if the rate they are being billed is a fair rate. You as the employee are being hired by the agency just like you would be for any other job, and you determine if the pay rate is worth your time. If you are truly looking for temp work while you look for a job in your real field, 20 bucks an hour is better than no bucks an hour.

If you are attempting to use a staffing agency as a headhunter, well then yeah, you might get screwed on your salary. But that doesn't seem to be the question that was asked.

Over the last 25 years or so I've worked for a few temp agencies in between gigs, and I was damn glad for the paycheck. I would do it again if the need arose.
posted by vignettist at 7:24 PM on November 11, 2014

the advice to "not take the first thing they offer you" is counterproductive. It is standard practice for a temp agency to try out a new temp on a short term thing where the stakes are low -- they work hard for those orders and they can lose a client with a bad placement. Take what they offer you, do a good job, and you'll be the proven commodity they can send to the plum jobs, the temp-to-hires.
posted by fingersandtoes at 8:00 PM on November 11, 2014

The science librarian at my job is a temp. They are hiring her in January, and they are paying her real money. She couldn't have had this job except coming in as a temp, because they needed to build a case for creating the position, by having someone do it and show a lot of progress. I think that situation is not uncommon.
posted by pH Indicating Socks at 8:23 PM on November 11, 2014

I've worked for a Staffing Agency for many years now. The reason people hate them is quite frankly because they are not qualified for the positions we have available.... and at most agencies we're not allowed to simply tell them that. We have to simply say "We'll give you a call." Because we're not allowed to tell them the truth as it could get us sued. So they feel like they're wasting time being given the run around.

The staffing industry has changed a LOT over the years. It used to be a great industry where you could sincerely help candidates get jobs as well as help clients get candidates.

Now it's ONLY to help clients get candidates and that's it. It is not at all about helping people get jobs. This is in large part due to the change in economy and changes in government requirements.

Whether it's worth it for you or not depends on a variety of factors. Depends on where you live, how you test, what you're experience is, your AGE, etc, etc. If you're ok with spending a few days going to several agencies and interviewing and testing and being told that you'll be called... with the possibility that you'll never actually get called then give it a go because you will learn a lot. At the very least you can have someone at the agency look over your resume and let you know what's wrong with it if anything. But if you don't get work from it and you're going to get a bad attitude over that then it might not be worth it for you.
posted by rancher at 8:40 PM on November 11, 2014

I have done a lot of temp work. You are working for the agency, who assigns you a temp position at a company. It can be for a week, or for two weeks, or three months, or a year, depending.

I started with a certificate in word processing (!), but I quickly learned all of the platforms required. So, I know Excel, PowerPoint, Word, etc. and I can quickly learn other softwares. I know design softwares, vector based and others, as well as softwares based on C platforms. I can do data entry, file, sort things quickly, email, schedule meetings, answer phones properly, sort mail for 100 people on a floor, and set up conference calls for people in 6 time zones. With that, I can do travel arrangement, sort out visas and other requirements for international travel, and host people from other countries, given their preferences. I can deal with local vendors and get bills paid in a timely manner by contacting the proper channels.

In short, if you can be a Radar O'Reilly or all things to all people, you can do it. You just have to be a quick learner and not be afraid to take control of people. Otherwise, they will take control of you. And be able to laugh at salesmen's jokes while typing an email to someone in Brazil. It's fun! And if you're good, they pay you a lot of money.
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 9:02 PM on November 11, 2014

The amount of YOUR money that the agencies are said to take are like folktales shared on any floor where a good percentage of the workers are temps, but no one really knows. It's common belief that they're taking a dollar for every dollar you make, but I doubt that in most cases the amounts come close to that. They negotiate with the companies, and it depends on the skill level of the placements, the number of placements, how stable a contract they're servicing, etc. Anyway, it's not YOUR money, you're getting paid what you agree to work for and the agency is taking a service fee on top.

It's a mixed bag. You could randomly be sent somewhere interesting or promising that you'd never think to approach on your own. Or you can get royally screwed around. It's been a long time since any kind of clerical/office temp position seemed accessible to me, I've been streamed into the dregs of unskilled industrial. There I've worked several jobs where maybe 60% or more of the workers are temps, where the opportunity for moving into direct employment is minimal and where the term of employment is limited to something like 9 months or a year, after which you'll be let go even if you've been a great worker. Your co-workers disappear week to week. In places like this it can be a bit of a sport for the full-time employees, even the ones who are incompetent or working some kind of light-duty scam, to lord it over the temps. Even those fulltimers who are well-meaning can do it instinctively, because they've been burnt out and made cynical by the constant turnover. Doesn't make for a great work environment or a good future.

Temping worked better for me years ago, but things have changed since staffing became just-in-time, a cell on a spreadsheet. Sometimes it can be good strategy to hold out for a higher rate of pay than you might be willing to accept, because with those who are willing to pay more might come a higher class of placement, with better prospects. It's one way to try to shape the game where - unless you bring unique skills - you don't have much leverage or control.
posted by TimTypeZed at 11:30 PM on November 11, 2014

A good agent should treat you like a star (and should reasonably expect that you will merit such treatment). This is the case with careers like acting, modelling and writing and I think it is instructive to think in these terms when considering everyday staffing agencies. A good agent will have a wide range of contacts in the business, will be trusted by them to find the best people, will work to secure you in the postings which will suit both parties, will give you helpful feedback on your performance, and will be extremely good at handling scheduling, contractual negotiation and invoicing. They will also know, and avoid, those employers who are exploitative or incompetent. If you look at the people working for a good agent you should be impressed by their talent and you should find that they are happy to be with this agency.

There is another sort of agency - which is one which collaborates with their clients to find the cheapest staff, which exploits those staff, pays little head to their requirements and regards them as disposable. They are the ones who service the organisations that the good agencies shun. Avoid them.

The fact that you plan to work in a library rather than on a catwalk or stage should not make any difference to this assertion.
posted by rongorongo at 2:41 AM on November 12, 2014

Temping pretty much saved my life. I had been laid off and was out of the work force for about five months when I finally hooked up with the agency that connected me to great temp jobs for average or above average market rates. One of these jobs led to the literal exact job I was looking for for years, which is in a field that I know is flooded with applicants (higher education digital marketing). My unemployment had run out the exact week they called me for the job that led to full time, real benefits work.

Anyway, I think the key is to find the one that matches your skills and cares about finding good candidates. Finding an agency had a great local presence, had great agents and was focused on the marketing/creative field made all the difference. Because they were focused on one industry, the calls for work were rare and that was discouraging, but when I got them they were for jobs I was particularly suited for and the pay was better even then full-time positions for which I was interviewing.

As far as interviewing for other jobs, it's my experience that agencies totally understand that this is a part of a temps life and totally understand it. If they don't, that would be a red flag. I was always hesitant about telling them I had interviews, for fear they wouldn't call me for jobs, but they were always encouraging and understanding.
posted by coreywilliam at 6:18 AM on November 12, 2014

Over the years, I've gotten some of my best jobs through temping.
posted by Altomentis at 12:30 PM on November 12, 2014