** The Good & Bad About Temp. Agencys?? **

[kLezViruS]

I was browsing online and found out theres a few places in my area that are hiring. But its through a Temp Agency. If i remember clearly it was called "Westaff." I really just wanted a summer job that will last me through out June & July (to make a few bucks or so) and then quit in August when i go back to school.

Anyone know the good and bad about Temp agencys and if anyone knows about the company called "Westaff"

Thanks in Advance..

 

[rudder]

bad = zero benefits

 

[Shelly21]

It's good if you don't have a job in the first place. I was walking for a consulting firm which landed me my real first job. A consulting firm is just a fancier temp agency that comes with benefits.

 

[Hammer]

if you just want a job for the summer, then I think a temp agency is just what you're looking for.

 

[PlasticJesus]

Westaff is a temp agency that I've seen in more than one state that I've lived in, so it's certainly not something just local to you.

I've never been to one. My wife has gotten two different jobs through temp agencies, both of which led to full-time positions. In both instances she reported her hours worked to the agency, they produced her paycheck, and they produced her W-2 at the end of the year.

The temp agency is paid a fee by the employer, just like an airline may pay a fee to a travel agent.

The impression I get is that many companies have reduced or eliminated their own Human Resources Department and now let the temp agencies do some of the work the company used to. The use of temp agencies also allows the companies to avoid paying benefits for just a little bit longer than they used to, and it reduces possible liability in that prospective employees are kept in an "at-will" status longer than typical for that employer.

My wife is college educated and was actually looking for full-time work and both times using an agency her temp work quickly led to full-time. For someone who wants just a couple of months work, I would think that tele-marketing or day labor may be more likely what they have for you. I could easily be wrong.

It doesn't cost you anything to check it out and I can't imagine what the negatives would be. I'd certainly be interested to hear what you find out if you contact them.

 

[kLezViruS]

Originally posted by: PlasticJesus
Westaff is a temp agency that I've seen in more than one state that I've lived in, so it's certainly not something just local to you.

I've never been to one. My wife has gotten two different jobs through temp agencies, both of which led to full-time positions. In both instances she reported her hours worked to the agency, they produced her paycheck, and they produced her W-2 at the end of the year.

The temp agency is paid a fee by the employer, just like an airline may pay a fee to a travel agent.

The impression I get is that many companies have reduced or eliminated their own Human Resources Department and now let the temp agencies do some of the work the company used to. The use of temp agencies also allows the companies to avoid paying benefits for just a little bit longer than they used to, and it reduces possible liability in that prospective employees are kept in an "at-will" status longer than typical for that employer.

My wife is college educated and was actually looking for full-time work and both times using an agency her temp work quickly led to full-time. For someone who wants just a couple of months work, I would think that tele-marketing or day labor may be more likely what they have for you. I could easily be wrong.

It doesn't cost you anything to check it out and I can't imagine what the negatives would be. I'd certainly be interested to hear what you find out if you contact them.

Thanks for the replies. I finally checked my voicemail tonight because my phone was out of service for almost a week and today, I finally got to check it, and there was two voicemails from that Temp Agency, Westaff.

I think i'll give them a call tommrow morning and see what they have to offer.

Any more opinions/experiences are greatly appriciated..

Thanks..

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

I did temp work for about a year when I was 24. The money was relatively good, and it is nice to be able to go into a temp agency on a Friday and work on Monday. I suggest you register with more than one (three or four seems about right) to ensure that someone will have work for you.

 

[pyonir]

i got a job in a call center |) throught a temp agency. but i needed a job, and it was a job. after three months with the company i was hired on as a salaried employee. five months later i was promoted to a different position and here i sit. full benefits, stock options, 401k, blah blah blah.

for a summer job they are perfect. you don't need the benefits because i assume you are still covered under your parents if you are in school. but just be warned, some temp agencies look for a little more time than one or two months. most have a minimum 90 day contract with companies and would prefer you worked that 90 days. but you don't have to tell them you are going to back to school and you can just quit. choice is yours. good luck!

 

[hoihtah]

what hammer said is very true.

if you're looking for a temporary job... as the name states... it's a good place to look.

but if you're trying to start your career off...
it may bite you back.

say you work for a temp agency...
and begin to work for a company #1.

in most cases, company #1 ends up paying 75% on top of the pay you receive.
but that's business i suppose.

the biting you back part is when the company #1 wants to hire you as a permanent worker.
at that time... the company has to pay significant amount to the temp agency.

and from your company's perspective... there's no particular incentive for them to pay the agency money for your same work.

good luck man.

 

[rh71]

Temp agencies are great for summer jobs. But you better act fast before all the college kids get out of... oops too late.

Give it a whirl anyway. You've got nothing to lose but time that you have.

 

[kLezViruS]

Thanks everyone... Need little bit more opinions before i end up calling her back..

Thanks..

 

[badluck]

As a temp worker, you will probably be treated like a 2nd class citizen by the "real" employees. That has been true at a few of the places I have worked at (as a "real" employee). A couple of friends and I had this discussion and we all agreed that permanant workers usually treat temps like s*it....

But, it pays the bills, and you might not run into this type of atmosphere.....

 

[rh71]

Yeah, it's not always the case. At my last temp job, they ended up hiring me full-time as a database guy after hiring me as a temp clerical guy. It depends on the impression that you make. But I have had temp clerical jobs where they just needed someone to fill-in for someone who's been sick or whatnot. At those jobs, nobody talks to you much because you're probably locked in a room with papers and $#!t. Either way, you should get at least $10/hr. My last one was $12/hr and I was shocked. Good luck.

 

[PCHO]

I worked through a temp agency last year and ended up dispatching telecommunications technicians. Not the best job ut it paid well with 40 hours a week and I did get benefits. The company they plaed me was constantly trying to get me to become permanent but I wasn't that interested because I didnt really like my work. I eventually left and started back at Best Buy which was probably the best decision I've made in my life. The moral of the story? Temp work is a great way to pay the bills while you look for your real gig or until you go back to school.