For many years the staffing industry has served as a good barometer for the economy. The temporary help component is usually one of the first areas to rebound as companies tentatively staff up again, taking baby steps in the hiring process. So, the press release from the American Staffing Association that came across my desk last week offered some good news.
It noted that the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the temporary help industry had added 284,000 jobs in the past five months. But I didn’t need a press release to know that local business activity had picked up. I could tell that just by the office buzz, the shuffling of resumes and the number of interviews taking place on a daily basis. It’s good to hear the rhythm of the workforce again.
Historically, the number of temporary workers typically peaks out at about 2 percent of the workforce, but this number is likely to grow as a number of factors come together to fuel the push. Temporary work has become increasingly attractive to both millennials and aging baby boomers. The flexibility and freedom of temping is part of a new mindset. And temping isn’t just the domain of office support workers anymore—almost any industry and job can be turned into an “on demand” role. Some people relish the chance to explore different company environments and to choose when and where they want to work. The biggest drawback of a “temporary” lifestyle is probably the lack of a benefits package with portability options—the chance to work for various staffing suppliers on different assignments without losing coverage between downtimes.
According to the American Staffing Association more than 2 million people are employed daily in a temporary capacity. Of those that choose it, 66 percent say that flexibility is key. Additional reasons include providing a bridge to permanent employment in a temp-to-hire position. Seventy-seven percent of temporary workers say it’s a good way to find a full time job. Others use temping to gain new skills or transition into an entirely new career. Eighty-eight percent say that temporary or contract work made them employable and 40 percent choose it for job training purposes (many staffing companies provide free training and/or tutorials to their workforce).
If you are ready to try temping, ask around to see if someone can recommend a staffing service. Next, get on the Internet and check out a firm’s Web page. Many will detail the benefits they make available. Where I work (at Lloyd), temporary associates can participate in health and dental plans, a 401K and paid time work. You can also save valuable time by completing online job applications or uploading your resume to a firm’s site for their review. Be ready for the pre-hiring assessment which includes documents (like I-9 compliance), skills testing for computer proficiencies and in some cases drug testing and background checks.
Those temporaries who show the greatest flexibility in scheduling and pay are the ones who usually maintain steady work. It’s also an industry that lives and breathes on last minute emergencies—For example, the recent snowstorm put a lot of temps into desk chairs. If you want to work, tell your staffing firm that you’ll take calls as late as 11 p.m. and as early as 6 a.m. and check your cell or e-mail for messages regularly. Work to develop a real relationship with two or three services that can keep you as busy as you want to be. Call and let them know of your availability without being a nuisance. Put in some face time at their office.
In some ways, this last recession has taught us that we’re all temps now—No job is permanent.
We might as well get used to it.
Nancy Schuman is a vice president at Lloyd Staffing, headquartered in Melville, and is the author of eight how-to books on career guidance and job-search techniques. Lloyd Staffing offers temporary, contract and full-time employment services on a regional and national basis. Send your career-related questions to nschuman@longislandpress.com.
