Many job seekers think that staffing agencies only offer entry-level and temporary jobs, while others think that agencies don’t provide benefits to workers. However, all of that is not true. As a job seeker, you can use a staffing agency to find a wide variety of jobs, both permanent and temporary, in a number of industries. Staffing agencies hire everyone from entry-level workers to CEOs. Below, we will explain how to get a job through a staffing agency.
How Staffing Agencies Work
As a staffing agency, companies pay the agency to find employees for them. Job seekers can apply to specific jobs through the agencies, or contract staffing agencies looking for a job. These agencies interview job seekers and place them in appropriate positions. Staffing agencies then typically pay the selected candidate to work for the client company. However, if the company decides to hire the job seeker permanently, the staffing agency will no longer pay the job seeker. The employee will then be paid by the company.
Benefits of Working With a Staffing Agency
There are many benefits of using a staffing agency to find a job. Staffing agencies are free for you as a job seeker to use. You do not have to pay to be considered for jobs at an agency.
Another benefit is that the agency does the job searching for you. When you sign up to work with a staffing agency, they will ask you about your skills and experience. They will then let you know if they have a job that is a good fit for you.
Also, some staffing agencies provide benefits after employees have worked a certain number of days or hours. These benefits may include health insurance or a retirement plan.
Types of Available Jobs
Many think that staffing agencies only fill temporary secretarial and administrative jobs. However, that is not the case. You can find a job in almost every industry through staffing agencies. Some agencies work with companies in all different types of industries, where some focus specifically on one or two industries. Agencies also offer jobs that last for varying lengths of time. These include:
Temporary Jobs
Companies often look to hire temporary workers to help during an employee’s absence/period of leave, or during a busy work period. Sometimes a company will hire a temporary worker to complete a particular project. These temporary positions can range in length from a couple of weeks to many months.
Temp-to-Hire Jobs
These positions begin as temporary jobs so that the company can get to know the employee on a trial basis. If the company is happy with their work, they will then likely hire them directly. While the staffing agency tends to pay for the worker during the temporary phase, the company will take over paying the employee once they become full-time.
Permanent Jobs
Some agencies hire candidates for permanent positions at companies. In this type of situation, the agency works more like a traditional recruiter. They will find, interview, and select candidates for the company.
How to Find the Right Staffing Agency for You
When you are looking for a staffing agency to work with, make sure that you know the types of industries the agency works with. Also, you need to know if they offer temporary, temp-to-hire, or permanent jobs – or all three.
When you interview with a staffing agency, make sure you ask questions. See what benefits (if any) they offer, what types of jobs they typically fill, the industries they work with, and the average time it takes for a job seeker to land a job through them. The recruiter you work with is there to help you. Don’t be afraid to gather all of the information you need.