Don't Waste Your Time at a Staffing Agency

It was early in June and I had been unsuccessful at finding a summer job. I was desperate to make money, so I went to a nearby temporary agency. I figured I would definitely be hired since after all, their job is to recruit short term employees. As it would turn out, my assumption was anything but correct.

I walked in and the man working there gave me an application. He could tell I wanted clerical work because I was dressed too nicely to work in a factory. I was taken into a testing room to complete it, alongside someone watching a video and two people taking computer tests.

The application was pretty much like any other. I filled out information about my work experience, education background, skills, and placement preferences. After that came the lengthy part of computer testing and watching the video.

For the test, I had to do data entry, a portion in Microsoft Word, and Microsoft Excel. The first two were pretty easy since I was being tested for speed and accuracy. However, I found Excel to be a little difficult and couldn't do certain tasks in the program. I don't use it often so if I had a low score on it, I'd be fine with that.

When the recruiter came in to add up my score, he was impressed by my typing test results. I don't remember my exact speed, but he told me I needed to bring it down. I didn't understand that. I've always been a fast typist and I'm usually fairly accurate. Why should I slow down just because of what one person says?

I went back out front to discuss two potential job openings. It was between a ticket agent for a charter bus company and a telephone recruiter for the Red Cross. They paid well and didn't conflict with my internship, but I could not have either. Both companies wanted someone for the long term and not someone who would be leaving in August. However, he said he could talk to the Red Cross recruiter and see if I could still apply.

While waiting for him to come down, I went back in to watch the video. It was only seven minutes long and rather boring. It was about policies of the agency such as what to do when calling off and dropping off your time sheet. There really wasn't much else involved to it and I was unimpressed.

After almost dying of boredom, I talked with the other recruiter. He explained how they were searching for more long term employees, but said I could email my resume to him. He left me with his business card and a copy of the job description. By this point, I had been there for about two and a half hours and was in no mood to wait any longer. I was finally allowed to leave and call my mother to come and pick me up.

I was furious with this agency. How could there have been no short term openings available? Why did they waste my time with tests and watching a movie when they couldn't offer me anything? Why wouldn't anyone want at least a short term employee?

I'd recommend an agency to someone if it is your absolute last resort. If you can waste a good chunk of your day, you should try stopping in. However, if you aren't patient enough to sit around only to come up empty, stay home and scour the want ads.