Temp agency pros and cons?

Hey guys. If you have worked for a temp agency, what did you think of it? I am hearing conflicting views from my peers and parents. Some say "That would be a great job for you! You get paid well and could get a permanent job!" others say "Don't EVER do temp work! It's awful!"

I am a college senior. I am free for the rest of the summer but will have very limited hours when school starts again, and I plan on moving in about a year. I need at BARE MINIMUM $1000 a month. This temp work stuff sounds so tempting but is it the right way for me to go? I've been job hunting for almost 2 months with no success.

Are there any art-related agencies in the Chicago area?

I pretty much don't know anything about temp work or employment agencies, so all advice is welcome.

I would say, go with the temp agency. I am not able to guarantee your wages though. The temp agency does like to make a profit. Temp agencies are getting better at helping you, they have all sorts of tests to find your skill level in anything. I have found with experience that the better a worker you are (work done and congeniality) the more companies ask for you back and the more that happens the more the temp agencies pay you because you are a money maker and make them look good.

Good luck, hun.

My views of temp agencies are mixed. My job had downsized and I had got a temp job at a company. When positions for which I have experience in, was posted, it wasn't available for me to apply because full time employees had first dibs, then it would be posted internally. When/if I was able to interview for the job, the job wasn't available to me because the temp agency wouldn't release me from their contract. As a result, coworkers of the job that we got laid off from (and never got a temp job) applied and got the job, while i worked as a temp, 10 levels below what I am qualified to do.

When I was a temp, I hated it because EVERY MONDAY, I had to call in availability. It was a drag on Mondays telling them I was available. Also, most of the time. the agencies didn't have anything for me. They only help people who was employed in office work before and lost that job for some reason. If you never worked in an office before, then chances are they won't help you at all.

I am not sure if there are any art-related agencies, but you can call each and every one of them to see if that agency specialize in that field. Most of the time if they have work, they put you in a project that anyone can do and once the project is over, the agency will call the company to see how you performed. If you did a lousy job, chances are that they won't give you anything again.

I say register. I am not sure what your situation is regarding work in an office type setting. They do need extra help if they have any work. Most of the time, these jobs don't lead to permanent at all. Good luck

I began my career with temporary agencies which provided me exposure to many different business locations and after awhile, I would decide whether or not I wanted to continue temp work with a particular client. And I especially liked the ability to not work so long or hard, I could take off whenever without feeling that I deserted the job opportunity.

Again, go with a temp agency at first and there's a strong possibility that any temp job can be turned into a permanent assignment given the fact that many satisfied clients may offer you the permanent job even after a short time you have sat at a particular desk.

Good luck!

Generally speaking, don't be afraid of temp agencies. However, you should do your homework to make sure the agency (or agencies) you choose to work with will help you.

You're right-on to try search out agencies that specialize in your field of interest. Even at the temp level, that experience will look good on a resume. Try asking some of your professors for suggestions. They may have agency contacts that you can use, or give you some other contacts so that you could find out which agencies are most used for art-related companies.

Make sure you understand the details of your contract with the agency. While it's possible to get a permanent job with most any temp agency, that permanent position will come at a cost to the hiring company. Hiring you into a permanent position means the agency no longer gets paid, so they have "penalties" built into the contracts. If the penalty is too high in comparison to how badly the company wants to hire you, you remain a temp who could be let go at any time.

I'M FROM TEXAS....I HAVEN'T USED A TEMP AGENCY IN YEARS. BUT, I WILL TELL YOU,THEY ONLY PAY MINIMUM WAGE. AND,ITS USUALLY ONLY TEMPORARARY PART-TIME......FILL-IN JOBS. JUST TELL THEM WHAT YOUR INTERESTS ARE IF YOU DON'T HAVE ANY KIND OF EXPERIENCE. ANDGO FROM THERE. GOOD LUCK...!!!