Benefits of Temping In London
Some people still regard temping as a stop-gap. It is something that students do or young people who have just entered the workplace, whereas other people don’t do it, according to this myth. But in fact this concept of what temping is, is just so old fashioned. It is in fact a great way to work and can offer so much flexibility.
If you are temping then you will be able to go to all different kinds of jobs, meet lots of new and interesting people and if you are signed up with a reputable recruitment agency, then you will also be able to flex your wings a little and try out different types of jobs. And if you don’t like a position, then you try somewhere else. Or if the employer decides that they don’t like you, for whatever reason, then you can just pick something else up.
True, you don’t have a permanent contract, but in the economic climate of today, no job is safe. So why sit in the same old office, with the same old people, when you could be getting all different kinds of paid work experience, meeting new people and seeing life from different angles. Why it is almost a ‘no brainer’.
And the fact that you don’t have a permanent contract means that you can actually get paid a little more, so even though your job security is not quite so good as if you were an employee, the extra ready cash in your pay packet certainly makes up for it.
So you can forget all the preconceived notions about temping. It is a great way to make a living, to experience real variety and to have a flexible and adaptable approach to work. Really everyone should be made to temp, just to stop themselves from getting stuck in a rut!
Job Hunting Tips For Temps in London
If you fancy doing some work as a temp, but are not sure where to start, then the best thing to do is to find a good recruitment agency, who will be able to match up the skills that you have, with the jobs that they have on offer. The recruitment agency should help you to choose an area that you want to work in and help you to overcome any nerves or uncertainties about temping. Remember that the agency needs temps or else it would go out of business, so they do want to keep you.
There are lots of different types of agency available. Some are located on high streets, others are internet based. Some specialise in say, catering temps, others are office or admin type specific, but some have a wide variety of roles available.
Before you approach a recruitment agency though, you really should have an up to date curriculum vitae prepared, so that the whole process of signing up with them can be as easy as possible. It is also a sign to the recruitment agency that you really are professional, literate and well organised, so make sure that you update your curriculum vitae before you start interaction with the agency.
The qualifications required for temping jobs vary. For example, a construction specialist, such as an architectural technologist, will require many more qualifications than if the role were for an office junior, where the main emphasis may be on willingness to work and a keen attitude. But no matter what qualifications you have, you will be able to find a temping job, so long as you display enthusiasm, a keen and flexible approach and are genuinely keen to work. So don’t be shy of approaching a recruitment agency, they may be able to transform your working life!
Temping For The Very First Time
If you are about to start temping for the very first time, then you may feel slightly anxious about it and are not sure what to expect. Well the good news is that there is really nothing to fear. If the company that you have been placed with is a good one, then they will do all that they can to show you how things are done and how things work, so that your first day and first week just whiz past and soon you know exactly who is who and what is what.
On your first day remember that no one expects you to know the procedures for doing things, you are there to learn. Also no one expects you to know automatically where the coffee machine is, or who has two sugars and who only drinks herbal teas, so have realistic expectations.
The first day may seem quite tiring, since you will be shown things and introduced to different people and it can be hard to remember everyone, but if you do forget names, just be honest and ask them to tell you again, whilst offering an apology for not being able to recall their name.
You will be shown how to evacuate the building if there is a fire, where the toilets are, refreshment facilities and then given duties to undertake, as well as the introductions. If you are unclear about your duties or what they expect, ask for clarification rather than doing things wrongly. No one minds being asked to elaborate (usually) but they may well mind if you input data incorrectly etc.
Then after the first day you will find that you soon settle into different routines and find your feet. If you find that you are not settling or that you cannot seem to feel at home in the company, then it may be worth talking to your recruitment agency about finding another position. But realistically, if you keep an open mind and are keen to learn, then temping will be great fun and you will soon settle in wherever you are working.
Temping For The Summer Holidays
In the ‘olden days’ students used to use their summer holidays for travelling, having fun and generally just being lazy. But those days have gone now and many students find that the only way they can afford to continue with their studies is to work during the holidays. But what do you do?
Well the best thing to do is to sign up with a recruitment agency and try to secure a good position. There are some jobs, for example in shops or bars/cafes that may be advertised in the local papers, but many office and secretarial positions are only sent to a recruitment agency, since they know that the agency will have people to do those jobs.
So if you go to an agency, you have so many more options than you would do if you just look in the local paper. It is a lot easier to get a reasonably well paid temping job with an agency than through the papers.
You can also find quite varied positions: so you could find work as a carer, in a hospital, in a nursing home, in an office, or vets and so on. Some agencies may have particularly good links with local employers and so they can attract the best jobs, which is another good reason for choosing them.
Finding work these days is hard for everyone and since unemployment is quite high, many people who want full time permanent employment will actually start looking at any job, even a temporary one. So beat off the competition and go to an agency: they will save you time, get you the most interesting jobs and if you keep a good relationship with them, you can get work again in the future.
So whilst all your friends are out doing hard manual labour or cleaning jobs, you can pick up some valuable work experience in an office or some other location that will actually make your CV stronger. How cool is that?
How To Find Temping Work in London
London is a big place and to those who are not familiar with the city or who have not worked before, the process of ‘getting started’ working in London, can be intimidating. But the good news is that it doesn’t need to be, you can actually land a really good job temping, without having to put in too much effort. How cool is that ?
The first thing that you need to do is to register with a temping agency as soon as you can. This can either be an online recruitment agency or one that you find in Yellow Pages or similar. You may even see one on the High Street.
If you are very keen, then you could always register with a couple, so that you can find a dream job in next to no time at all. Checking out if the recruitment agency has any particular field of specialities e.g. secretarial jobs or white collar jobs, can also save you joining the wrong type of agency i.e. you don’t want to sign up to an agency who don’t tend to have the kind of jobs that you are looking for.
It is possible to find seasonal and temporary jobs in local papers or on the internet, but if you join an agency then you are to some extent protected by that agency and if the job doesn’t work out, it will be easier to find another position quite quickly. So give due consideration to this, even if you think that you have secured a really good job with a tiny advert you see in the local paper.
Make sure that you feel comfortable with the personnel at the recruitment agency and if you don’t, or they don’t seem professional, then don’t sign up with them: after all there are plenty out there, so you can literally take your pick!