Three things anyone thinking about staffing agency work should know
You may have already done all your research about the benefits of working forstaffing agencies, so much research that you’re sold on the idea of having a run at a staffing agency job.
Before you get started, it’s important that you have a good grasp on what it will really be like working for a staffing company. Working for a staffing agency isn’t your average, run-of-the-mill job. There are serious differences between working for a staffing company and directly for an employer, and it’s not for everyone. Here are three things you should understand before submitting your first application to a staffing agency:
Types of work available with staffing companies
All staffing jobs are not created equal. Depending on the needs of the client (your future employer), staffing agencies offer a variety of positions to best fit their needs. It’s important to know exactly what type of job you’ll have when you get your assignment. There are three major types of staffing agency assignments:
- Temporary: Temporary or contract assignments are for a fixed amount of time. You will typically know the start and end date. These will sometimes change in the middle of an assignment, so if you’re looking for a steady routine, this probably isn’t the kind of job for you.
- Temporary-to-permanent (temp-to-perm): Many staffing positions have the potential to be temp-to-perm or temp-to-hire whether they are advertised as such or not. This is a trial position to gauge your ability to work for the company on a regular full-time basis.
- Permanent (direct hire): For permanent positions the staffing agency acts as a recruiting firm to screen and hire candidates for regular positions, then employees are hired directly by the employer.
Pros of working for a staffing company
Depending on what kind of job you get through a staffing agency, the benefits will vary. In some cases pay for staffing agency personnel can be higher than their permanent counterparts. As with most cases, more experience will bring more money. In addition to pay, many staffing agencies offer health, dental, life and vision insurance, and anytime you’re brought on with the company you work with for a full-time permanent position, you’ll be eligible for the benefits they offer their other employees.
There are more than just compensation benefits for staffing agency jobs. Working for a staffing agency can help you build valuable business contacts, gain work experience and help you avoid gaps in your work history.
Cons of working for a staffing company
Working for a staffing agency isn’t for everyone. To succeed with a staffing agency you’ll need to be reliable and punctual to build up your reputation. Staffing jobs also require you to be able to learn new tasks and policies quickly, and flexibility in your work location and assignments is essential.