Job searching is hard, and when the economy is struggling, the jobs are just not there like they should be. In fact, the coveted full time, high paying job with benefits is pretty hard to find right now. It won't always be like that, but if you are having trouble finding work, you may want to see what you can find in temporary jobs. You may initially think these jobs are not for you, but they can help you earn money while looking for something else, and they can also help you expand and enhance your resume if you do it the right way.
Some feel that if they take temporary jobs, they are going to look unstable to possible, future employers. If you have been jumping from job to job for a long time, that may be the case, but if you take the right temporary jobs, you are going to look like a better choice for an employee. You have to find the right jobs or opportunities that move you forward in your choice of career, not ones that stall you out or even move you in a backwards direction. Temporary work can do more than just pay the bills for the time being.
You can go about finding temporary jobs in a few different ways. You can call around and ask for temp. positions at different companies in your area and in your line of work, but this can be exhausting and often fruitless. Instead, you should look for a good temp. agency. There are a few different types, so choose the right one. Some specialize in temporary jobs in the business sector, and others work with those in highly specialized careers or more labor intensive jobs. Call around and find the best one in your area, and then make an appointment to go in for an interview.
When you go to sign up for temporary jobs, they are going to interview you much like any company would when you apply for a job. They have to sell you to your prospective employers, so they need more information from you. If you have special skills, they may have some testing to see where your skill level lies. If you run computer software, for example, they may test you so that they can tell employers that you can indeed do what a job may require. After this is all over, they then start looking for work for you.
You can accept or reject any offers you want. You may find temporary jobs that last a week, a day, or a few months. Companies need temp workers to fill job vacancies, maternity leaves, and unexpected employee loss. Not only are you going to gain experience that you can add to your resume, you may find that some jobs can become permanent. Think of some temporary jobs as on the job interviews. Not all lead to employment, but they all pay and they all offer experience. Not only can they see if they like you, you can see if you like the job. Temping can be great experience if you go into it with the right attitude, determination, and goals.