Are Temp Agencies as Bad as They Were 25 Years Ago?

[FBJ]

If someone UC has run out completely then I don't see an issue with going to a temp agency

[nj21]

Originally Posted by moved

I used temp agencies back then, and got immediate work, but it's different now. Now they're just a waste of time, because they only have "come on" jobs to get you in the office, but never put you to work.

This is definitely true.

I've been employed with a temp agency since May and I barely get any work. Just bits & pieces here and there. Nothing too critical or challenging. I'm not complaining because it pays a pretty high wage and I've been allowed to work at home (as a temp), but it was quite hard to re-do my resume and add this position.

I also have noticed that agencies will call and have an "exciting" job opportunity and when you return their call they have to find your resume or "gather" their thoughts because they have no idea they have just called you. It's very impersonal and akin to cold-calling, IMO.

Maybe also, a little unprofessional.

After this assignment is over I will search for a permanent position with benefits.

I honestly think that is the best thing to do if you can afford to do so.

[FBJ]

Originally Posted by nj21

This is definitely true.

I've been employed with a temp agency since May and I barely get any work. Just bits & pieces here and there. Nothing too critical or challenging. I'm not complaining because it pays a pretty high wage and I've been allowed to work at home (as a temp), but it was quite hard to re-do my resume and add this position.

I also have noticed that agencies will call and have an "exciting" job opportunity and when you return their call they have to find your resume or "gather" their thoughts because they have no idea they have just called you. It's very impersonal and akin to cold-calling, IMO.

Maybe also, a little unprofessional.

After this assignment is over I will search for a permanent position with benefits.

I honestly think that is the best thing to do if you can afford to do so.

Yes it's the best thing to do unless your UC benefits run out and then you have no more money coming in

[wanderlust76]

They are very shady and are abusing the recession like crazy. Like MSChemist said they try to get info out of applicants to use for their sales and they will post fake jobs to get this info. They farm resumes to look for companies to give their sales pitch to. If they find out a company uses agencies they will call them and try to take business away from the agencies they are competing with.

They make money off of the employer... not you personally so to an agency you're just a tool to them nothing more. They are the middle man and and try to play it to their advantage in any way possible. They will lie to the applicants about the employer, and lie to the employer about the applicants.

I cancelled an appointment one time with an agency because I lined up a job through another agency and the woman started getting extremely nibby and asking a ton of questions.

[Truth11]

Worse.