Have you found yourself between jobs or confused as to what direction you want to go in your employment? Perhaps you’re a creative looking for consistent income, while working on your passion. Or an entrepreneur trying to focus on your side-hustle, so you can eventually focus full-time on your brand. Whatever the case, temp jobs might be your solution. However, there are many choices, so where do you begin?
Once you make the decision to do temporary work, you have to find a place to start. Consider the following questions:
What are your reasons for doing temporary work?
- New in town
- Need a job quick
- Picking up extra money between jobs
- Exploring businesses before deciding on long-term situation
- Traveling
- Supplementing your basic income
- Supporting your basic income
If you're clear about your reasons, you're more likely to find the right situation.
What kind of temporary work do you expect to do?
- Office administration
- Accounting
- Word processing
- Computer programming
- Day labor
- Babysitting
- Housecleaning
- Construction
- Health care
- Food service
There are many possibilities. Seasonal work is plentiful—retail during the holidays, or agricultural work, forest service jobs, landscaping, lifeguarding, road-flagging and camp counseling during the summer.
Can you take advantage of personal experiences and skills?
Make a list of your previous experiences, including volunteer positions, classes, and hobbies. Most people are amazed at how many skills they have when they think about it. Forgotten skills may qualify you for more employment openings than you think.
Have you researched all the options?
Be resourceful. Read articles about the areas you're planning to pursue. Talk to people who have worked in this capacity. Talk to agencies. Check the library for information about a particular field or occupation. Pay attention to job fairs that are held in your area.
What is the best way to approach this work?
- Temporary employment agency
- Ads in the paper
- Index cards or flyers on bulletin boards in a university, food co-op, or other community center
- Cold-calling
- Personal contacts
You might talk to people that you've met through jobs, or respond to an advertisement in the paper, or place your own ad. I know one temp who read the classified listings for administrative jobs, then called the businesses and offered herself as a stand-in until a full-time employee could be hired. Another temp went door to door at a large office building, promoting herself as a stand-in receptionist for vacations. Armed with her resume, substantial references, and a great deal of charm, she managed to keep herself in business for an entire summer and fall.
I use my personal contacts whenever possible, especially when I travel to cities where I have friends. Usually somebody has a lead about somebody else, who can use some help for a week or two. In this way, I give the business a hand and pay for my trip at the same time. The key rule here is to remember that you are offered the jobs based on your friends' reputations. Therefore, treat such assignments the same way that you would treat the friends who gave you the job lead—with great respect.
How much money do you require to survive?
Of course it's prudent to match financial requirements to the work you plan to do.
Since there are sometimes gaps between assignments, it can be a balancing act to make certain that cash flow is adequate. I think it's safe to assume that worrying about finances is nobody's favorite pastime.
Can you be easily contacted?
This is crucial, since most temporary work is available on a "first come, first served" basis.
Will you be home to answer the phone? Do you have an answering machine? If you're new in town and don't have your own telephone, can you be reached through a friend or answering service?
How will you get to assignments? Do you have a car? Are the job sites accessible via foot or public transportation? Are cabs available if the business is located in a remote area and you have to work late at night? If the job is in a city that you are unfamiliar with, do you have a map?
It also helps to have the closest subway stop or bus route number.
Do you have a Social Security card, birth certificate, driver's license, or proof of naturalized citizenship?
The law requires proof of American citizenship or a work visa (if you are from another country) to work in the United States.
Are you willing to commute or relocate?
Sometimes temporary work is more available in urban areas or other geographical locales. Salaries also tend to be higher in cities and in certain areas of the country.
Do you have computer skills?
Much of today's temporary employment involves the use of computers, and that's where some of the highest pay lies. If you don't have experience, you can gain it by:
- Getting a friend to teach you some basics
- Looking up tutorials on YouTube and self-teaching
- Taking classes online or in-person through a community college or specialized school program
- Practicing on tutorial programs through your temporary agency
- Studying one program and applying what you've learned to similar programs.
Are you willing to do phones?
Telephone work is the place where many people begin their careers as temps. There is a high turnover in receptionist jobs, so they are available in abundance. They also act as good foot-in-the-door assignments for temps who are looking for permanent work. Here are some reception position tips:
- Write out the name of the company and information about it, and keep it by the phone so that you remember which business you're at.
- Be courteous.
- Don't be afraid to ask people to repeat their names or numbers.
Do you plan to temp long-term?
If you are considering a long-term situation and will be working through a temporary agency, it may be in your best interest to remain with one agency, since benefits are often available in exchange for working over a longer period of time. Research agencies to discover which one will best satisfy your needs.
Are you willing to market yourself?
Sometimes the best jobs come through sheer assertiveness. Keep your eyes open. Answer ads, call your friends and ex-employers, and contact your temporary agency. Be available.
In conclusion, there are endless options to what you can do. The key is to know what you want and require in a temp job and what skill sets you can bring to the table. Once you hone in on those things, it’s all about taking initiative and being open to opportunities.
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