Whether you temp by career choice, as a stop gap to finding a permanent position, or as a fill-in between classes, you have the ability to stand out. With the continued lack of both permanent and temporary positions during the current ‘jobless recovery,’ your attitude and professionalism can make the difference in whether you get called for the few available temp jobs.
Unfortunately, one hears far more stories about ‘bad’ temps than good ones, so you may go into fresh assignments with a disadvantage. However, it’s easy to turn negative preconceptions around to your benefit. You need to be a temp ace – to represent your agency favorably and to encourage both commendations and callback opportunities.
Here are a few things to help you make a winning impression with any agency and client.
1. Have a favorable attitude
This separates the ace temps from the disposable ones. Great attitude comes mostly from knowing why you are temping. Some of the strongest temps are those who have chosen the flexibility and variety that temp life offers, while the more challenged temps are often those who think they are just filling in until they can get a ‘real’ job. Whatever your situation, publicly put the agency’s reputation and client’s needs first. Also, get into the habit of recognizing that temping is a free education. More than that – you get paid to meet potential employers and to explore different businesses. If you hate temping, it will show. So, find a way to get excited! List all the benefits you get from temping and focus on them so you can give your agency and clients your best efforts. Or do something else.
2. Have a strong work ethic
This means reliability and professionalism. No assignment is too low or menial if you choose to accept it. If you believe the pay is much too low or the commute is too far, don’t accept the assignment. If you really can’t stand reception work or envelope stuffing, then again, don’t accept the assignment. Conversely, if you accept an assignment that doesn’t prove to be all that you hoped, never let the employer see your disappointment, or pre-terminate without discussing the situation with your agency so it can ease the transition with another temp. This will help the client keep production going, and will let your agency preserve a valuable customer.
3. Jump start your learning curve
Every temp assignment can help you boost your learning speed and capacity. For instance, clients who give new hires a month’s training will expect you to be an immediate expert. Therefore, learn a little about the client and department, if possible – from your agency, the company’s web site, and publicly available press releases and articles. Prepare a sheet of basic questions for your first ten minutes with the client supervisor – verify your schedule, the locations of amenities (water, coffee, restrooms), timesheet information, and specifics of the job itself. Keep notes on the equipment you use, any passwords you are given, contact names in the office, etc. Finally, go in with your timecard filled in except for the working hours, and present it well before the end of the working day on which you need it signed. All this will help you look more organized and professional than the client expects.
4. Add value to the client’s operations
Do the job you are given, ask for more, and fine tune whatever you do. For instance, perhaps you have computer and phone, plus a messy phone list of department contacts. Redo the phone list – primarily so you can actually use it, and leave a clean copy for the original employee or for the next temp. Draft a few procedures and task expectations for the next temp, and fax or e-mail a copy to your agency for their records (and keep one for your own). In slow times, use available tutorials and resources to learn new skills, and apply them to more complex tasks, Finally, fill your down time wisely with educational and business-oriented research and reading. If you are ever queried, you can say (and truly mean) that you are brushing up so you can do more for the client. This can often help you get the assignment extended.
5. Promote yourself
When your supervisor compliments you, ask him to let your agency know; you can explain that this helps your agency know they are serving the client properly, and will help make successful future assignment matches. When you leave the assignment, leave a small card listing some of your skills and your agency’s contact information, so you can be called back for any department that can use those skills. Finally, after you leave, send a brief thank-you card to the supervisor, again with the agency’s contact information. And, of course, check in with your agency and note that you would like to see any callbacks awarded with a higher pay rate – especially if you received compliments and/or assignment extensions.
Final
Ace temps leaves every assignment in top form, and prompt job extensions and callbacks. They also treat their agency(ies) right by communicating issues privately, by upgrading skills, and by sharing specific info learned about each assignment and client culture. That can help make you the first temp on call, and earn you pay upgrades. Ace temps not only get the best out of every assignment, they generate goodwill and potential future business for their agencies. Good luck!