Staffing is a great way to find a new job, make a career change, or have a flexible schedule. Many people find that their experience with a Staffing agency is not what they expected, but there are ways to improve your chances of getting a job. These three tips for working with a staffing agency will help make your experience more enjoyable.
1) Make sure you maintain a positive and professional attitude. Make sure your resume is clear, concise, and shows your best experiences. Make sure you use a professional sounding email address. When the recruiter asks you why you left your last job, leave any negative feelings out of your answer. The more flexible you are in terms of length of assignment or hourly pay, the more opportunities you will be offered.
2) Even if you are unemployed, make sure you stay employed. When your recruiter asks you what you've been doing lately, don't respond with "I'm looking for a job." The staffing agency recruiter is your representative and advocate, but they cannot lie about your experience. The first question a client will ask about a candidate is what they have been doing lately. If you haven't worked, spend some of your time volunteering, freelancing, or doing any number of other engaging things that will give you and your recruiter something to talk about. Include this information on your resume.
3) Don't expect a job right away. Staffing and recruiting agenciesdon't create jobs, they get jobs from their clients and each individual position requires different skills based on the client's needs. A staffing agency cannot guarantee a job for every applicant. The company will likely instruct you to call once or twice a week to let them know you are still available, so make sure you keep in touch even if there is no job available at the time you call. Once a position becomes available that matches your background and skills, the staffing and recruiting agencies will be sure to contact you.
If you ensure that you maintain a professional attitude, continually improve your experience by keeping yourself busy even when you are unemployed, and understand that the staffing firm cannot promise employment to every applicant, then your partnership with a staffing firm can prove to be a great relationship.