Seven Tips for Temporary Workers

As a veteran of many successful temporary assignments, I have discovered several practical tips for not only surviving but thriving in them. Temporary employees are more than permanent employees with a short employment period. If you work for a good temporary employment agency, you may work for long periods of time with very little down time if they consider you a good employee.

Tip #1

Never consider your job to be temporary. You work full-time for the temporary agency. They assign you to different locations, but your employer stays the same. You are reporting to work in the office, warehouse, or factory of a client of the company that employs you.

Tip #2

You are expected to be able to hit the ground running. When a company seeks out a temporary employee, they expect to be sent someone who already understands the basics of the job. They are looking to only need to explain the specifics of this job to you. You should be familiar with the equipment, software, and processes that are used by the company. The temporary agency screenings should have matched you closely with the job assignment.

Tip #3

The agency and their client expect you to be able to fit into the situation without creating waves. You are there to help. Unless you are asked to make changes, do not make changes. You need to get along with coworkers and work within the framework provided. If you have suggestion, you can offer them, but do not get obnoxious about it.

Tip #4

Show up on time, put in a full shift, and leave when you are instructed. If you are unclear about working hours, lunch, or breaks, ask the person who supervises you not coworkers. Your hours and schedule may not match theirs. Do not slack off. If they wanted the work to slide and pile up, the position could have gone unfilled until the person returned or a regular employee was hired.

Tip #5

Do not be afraid to inquire about the possibility of the temporary assignment becoming a permanent one. Many companies like to test drive employees for a few weeks or months before making a commitment. The client has already signed an agreement that specifies the fees if the company chooses to hire you outright. This will not be considered forward, and may open a door for a permanent position if that is what you are seeking. If it is offered, you do not have accept, but it may end your assignment if the company is looking for an employee.

Tip #6

Use each assignment as a learning experience. Every company does their work differently even if the output is the same. As you learn more about various companies operations, you become a more valuable asset to the employment agency. Stop by the office and update your experience record and resume after each assignment ends. You may have learned just the skills needed for great position. Unless you keep things updated, those who look for your assignments will not know about it.

Tip #7

If you have an assignment that lasts longer than three months, do not be afraid to ask for a raise. If the company had hired an employee, the employee would be getting a raise at about three months because that is a standard probation period for most companies. If you are doing a good job, many companies will be willing to increase your salary to keep you on board. The agency will handle the negotiations. If they say no, you have not lost anything. My experience is that they usually say yes.