Temping Tips for Graduates

As a new graduate, you can be faced with a number of different choices regarding what to do next. Some people decide to take a gap year to travel, some remain at university to study further while others launch straight into a career. If, however, you really are undecided as to what you want to do, temporary work is an ideal opportunity to earn some money and gain work experience while deciding on your next move.

Establish your requirements

If you do decide that you want to try temping for a while, it is important that you have a clear idea of the type of work you are looking for, the location you wish to work in and the hours you wish to work. Temping is generally considered to be a flexible option, although contracts can vary in length from just a few hours to many months, and can be an invaluable opportunity for you to assess your suitability for the type of industry you hope to work in on a permanent basis.

Are you suited to temporary work?

Due to the possibility of having to work for a number of different companies, often in rapid succession, some people are just not cut out for the fast-paced temporary market. You may find that you simply prefer the stability of longer-term contracts with the regular income they provide and the opportunity to build strong working relationships with your colleagues.

Temping agencies

There are many agencies which specialise solely in the recruitment of temps and some of them cater for specific industry sectors. Your local telephone directory will help you to identify the best agencies to contact while newspapers and careers websites will list specific adverts placed by agencies. To ensure that you have the best chance of finding a suitable temporary position, it is best to register with more than one agency but be careful not to register with too many because you may find yourself inundated with work opportunities.

Introducing yourself to agencies will normally require you to provide them with a current CV and it is important that this accurately reflects your qualifications, skills and experiences. Your contact details should be up to date so that agencies can contact you as soon as a suitable opportunity arises. As a recent graduate, you may find that your CV is lacking in work experience but it is important to incorporate any experiences gained at university, such as involvement in societies or the organisation of events, which may have provided you with valuable transferable skills. The CV Centre can help you to produce a highly effective CV which will maximise your chances of securing the most suitable position.

Most temping agencies will want to meet you in person so that they can not only ascertain your specific requirements but also form an opinion of you and gauge your suitability for available opportunities. First impressions are of vital importance at these interviews because they can help the agency to decide whether or not to recommend you for a position. So dress professionally, arrive on time and behave as if it were a formal interview with a potential employer. You can also use this interview as an opportunity to ensure that the agency fully understands your requirements and your intentions regarding temporary employment and the future.

Some agencies will also require you to undertake basic skills tests to assess your numeracy, grammar and computer literacy. These are not really anything to worry about as they are simply designed to ensure that you are only offered work that you are best suited to. However, if these tests highlight a particular area of weakness, it may be useful to ask the agency if they can recommend or provide training to help you improve.

Payment

You should discuss with the temping agency the hourly rate that you expect to achieve but it is important that you keep this realistic. Do your research to ensure that you quote an hourly rate that is not only financially viable but also one that is appropriate to the type of work you hope to obtain. When offered a position, ascertain the hourly rate before accepting; you may even consider accepting a lower than expected rate if the experience you could gain will provide you with greater benefits in the long term.

Best temping practice!

When you start to receive offers of work from the agency and undertake assignments, it is important that you follow some basic guidelines in terms of your behaviour and performance otherwise the agency may receive negative feedback about you which may affect future work opportunities with them.

Arrive on time and wear clothing appropriate to the work you will be undertaking
Take notes on what you are required to do throughout the day and ensure that, if you finish your allocated workload, you volunteer for additional duties if appropriate
Ascertain your entitlement to breaks but don’t assume that you will be paid for working through any breaks you take
Show willingness at all times and work hard to build relationships with other team members
Give feedback on each position to the temping agency so that they can tailor the job search in the future
Fulfil your obligations both to the employer and the temping agency, and notify them immediately if you are unable to take on a contract you had previously accepted
Maintain a positive relationship with your temping agency – you never know when you may need their help again in the future

Temping can be the ideal chance to earn money while also gaining an invaluable insight into a variety of different roles. This can help you to decide where your future career path lies and can also enable you to develop a useful network of contacts.

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