If you’re looking for work and want to start straight away, temporary work could be your answer. Haven’t done temporary work before? Here’s some useful advice to get you started.

What is temporary work?

Temporary work can be anything from one day’s work to a longer term contract covering, for example, an extended period of leave, sickness, maternity and seasonal increases in workload. Although contracts can vary in length, employers are usually looking for someone to start straight away.

Getting started

When you speak to your recruitment agency, let them know whether or not you’re available to start work now (or you may want to specify a specific date you’ll be available from).

You also need to specify how many hours you are available to work – for example, you might only want to work part time hours or nights.

What are the benefits of temping?

As well as allowing you to find work fast, temping may be a more flexible option for you. It’s easier to work around your lifestyle and the experience you gain from working in various roles in different locations can be very valuable to your long term employment plans. It also gives you the opportunity to try out different careers if you want to make a permanent change to the type of work you do in the future.

And who knows – your temporary placement might lead to something more permanent so it’s a great way back into the world of work if you’ve been made redundant.

How can I stand out from the crowd?

Here’s a few dos and don’ts to consider when writing your CV that we think will help you on your way to success:

• DON’T write too much: Some people are tempted to put as much information in as possible to impress prospective employers. Remember, employers don’t always have the time to read everything about you! Keep it short and relevant to the roles you’re applying for – two pages max.
• DON’T use generic terms: This could really put off some prospective employers. Add value to your CV by using specific terms – for example “I successfully managed a team of five people” sounds much better than saying you are a ‘good team player’ and it’s more likely to get you noticed.
• DO take time over the layout: You may have the right words, but if they’re poorly presented and the layout of your CV is not structured, prospective employers may not give it the consideration it deserves. Use a clear font with bulleted lists to keep everything simple.
• DO check the spelling: Never underestimate the benefits of proof-reading! It’s always useful to get a friend (or your recruitment agency co-ordinator) to have a read through it for you.
• DON’T forget to include your contact details: Might sound obvious but it’s surprising how many people forget this. And if prospective employers don’t have your contact details, they will give the job to someone else!

If you think temporary work is for you and you’re ready to take the next step, then get in touch with our friendly team.