Working for a temp agency is different from working for an employer.
The temp agency is your employer and through your agency, you will have the ability to work for various employers on different sites, in different industries.
This position will allow you to network with many different people in different industries, build your skillset, as well as possibly find the perfect job for you.
But, keep in mind, while there are many benefits, there are also many drawbacks to this type of employment.
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Pros of Being a Temp Agency Employee
There are some great benefits associated with this type of employment.
In this article, we will list the top seven advantages of being a temp agency employee.
1. Learning New Skills
Working in various different jobs and different industries will allow you to gain valuable experience that you may be able to put on your resume and use when applying for other jobs.
You will be able to expand on your skillset by doing so.
For example, when working as a project coordinator, you will learn invaluable organizing skills, communication skills, time-management skills, and a sense of urgency, amongst other skills.
All these skills may be added to your resume when hunting for a full-time job and will increase your employability.
Recruiters are always looking for employees with a strong set of soft skills as these can be applied to most jobs.
In addition, you may be able to learn a few new hard skills, such as social media marketing, or SEO optimization.
2. Opportunity to Be Employed Full-Time
A temp job opportunity can easily become a full-time job.
There are many companies that hire temp employees on a temp-to-hire basis, meaning that the employee starts out as a temp employee that eventually transitions into a full-time job.
In addition, in order to be considered as a full-time employee, you are able to demonstrate to your employer that you are an employee with a strong work ethic who is able to consistently deliver high-quality work.
It is an opportunity to show the employer that you will be an asset to their company and encourage them to hire you full-time.
3. Networking
One of the great things about being able to work at several different locations in different positions is the ability to network with employees from these companies.
In many instances, you will come into contact with employees at different levels of the company that will afford you an excellent opportunity to network.
Every company experiences varying levels of labor turnover.
You may have impressed an upper-level management employee who transitions to a new company and is willing to open up a position for you at this new company.
Never underestimate the power of good networking skills.
4. Flexibility
As a temp employee, you may engage in different contracts, such as a six-month contract or a three-month contract.
This means that there is a lot of room for flexibility in your work and free time as you will be able to communicate with your temp agency to have time off between contracts, which is not an option when you are working full-time for a company.
Furthermore, you may have a lot of flexibility within each job contract depending on the company and the position.
For example, you may be a part-time server for a busy country club during their peak season.
This means that you will still be working shifts and different time slots.
5. Trying Out Different Jobs
As a temp agency employee, you will be exposed to a variety of jobs.
For example, you may be a communications coordinator one week and a receptionist the next week.
If you are new to the working world, or in the market to change your career, this is a wonderful opportunity to try out several different industries before you decide on a career path for yourself and what your career interests are.
In addition, because you will be working in different careers back to back in a short space of time, you will learn a lot about those industries and jobs which may also be put on your resume.
6. Earning an Income While You Are Looking For Full-Time Work
Instead of sitting at home and job hunting, you will be able to earn money while looking for your next full-time job.
In doing so, you will be able to remain financially stable while looking for full-time employment.
7. Fits Your Schedule
If you are a student or a retiree, you may benefit from working as a temp employee.
For example, if you are a student who is studying full-time and unable to secure a full-time job due to your class schedule, working for a temp agency may help you secure your income and give you the flexibility you need to continue to pursue your career.
You may benefit from a temp contract as an evening server in a busy restaurant, which means that you can attend your classes during the day and work in the evenings if you are struggling to find a part-time job.
Cons of Being a Temp Agency Employee
Just as there are several benefits, there are also a few disadvantages to this type of employment.
It does all depend on what your ultimate goal is and what you are hoping to achieve in your career.
1. An Unsteady Work History
As an employer, you may notice that the first thing you look for in a prospective employee is a stable work career.
For example, the fewer previous employers a prospective employee has, the more appealing they are as they demonstrate the ability to stay committed.
Labor turnover costs a company a lot of money in training and placement fees.
You may come across as a job hopper to your employer, which may deter them from hiring you as they may fear that you will jump ship for any reason and quite quickly as well.
2. No Stability
While most temp agencies have long lists of recurring clients, many do not.
You may not have back-to-back contracts and may have a lot of additional, unplanned time off.
This means that there is very little stability for this kind of employment.
Your job and income will frequently change, making it hard to make any long-term commitments of any kind, as you simply cannot budget with your income.
3. Employee Benefits
Temp employees do not enjoy the same benefits package as full-time employees do.
If you are someone with a family that you need to take care of, then health insurance, dental, and vision may be important benefits that you need.
These are often not included in the benefits package offered to part-time or temp employees.
4. Isolation In The Workplace
Temp employees are only in a position at a workplace for a short period of time.
This rarely, if ever, gives them the opportunity to bond with the full-time employees at the company.
Or, alternatively, the employee may find it somewhat challenging to build any kind of relationship with colleagues due to the fact that there simply is not a sufficient amount of time available to build a working relationship.
This in turn may lead to feelings of isolation for the duration of the contract and every other contract that the employee accepts for that matter.
5. Boring Work
As a temp employee, you may find yourself in a position that you do not find interesting or challenging. T
his makes the tasks mundane and boring, leading to low productivity.
On the other hand, if you find full-time work in the profession of your choice, you will be tasked with assignments that you find fulfilling, rewarding, and challenging.
You may want to take this into consideration when you opt to find work next time.
6. Jack of All Trades
The problem is that you may end up doing this for a longer period than you anticipated.
You may be learning some wonderful new skills but you are not advancing or specializing in one particular field.
Usually, when you specialize in a particular field, you have in-depth knowledge of that topic and you subsequently become invaluable to your company.
There is a lot more job security in full-time employment than there is in temp employment.
7. No Real Advancement
As a temp employee, you will not be able to work towards advancement or promotion of any kind.
If you end up doing this type of work for an extended period, it may lead to job dissatisfaction as you cannot see the progress you are making.
This may also lead to lower levels of morale and even depression in some extreme cases.
Pros and Cons of Working for a Temp Agency – Summary Table
| Pros of Being a Temp Agency Employee | Cons of Being a Temp Agency Employee |
|---|---|
| 1. Learning New Skills | 1. An Unsteady Work History |
| 2. Opportunity to Be Employed Full-Time | 2. No Stability |
| 3. Networking | 3. Employee Benefits |
| 4. Flexibility | 4. Isolation In The Workplace |
| 5. Trying Out Different Jobs | 5. Boring Work |
| 6. Earning an Income While You Are Looking For Full-Time Work | 6. Jack of All Trades |
| 7. Fits Your Schedule | 7. No Real Advancement |
Should You Become a Temp Agency Employee?
Consideration should be given to your current position.
Are you just entering the job market and need some skills?
Have you recently lost your job and are hoping to get back into the working world?
Do you have a career path in mind?
If you are looking for work or studying and need something part-time, then this may be a good fit for you.
If you need additional income to supplement your other income and you have free time, then this may be a good fit for you.
But, if you are hoping to go into a specific career, and you are job hunting, consider how long you intend on working for the temp agency and what your goals are for getting full-time employment.
A temp agency job may be good for a temporary time only.
