After trying various temp agencies, Apple One (no work), Labor Ready (sucks, only try if truly desperate), I have now found employment through Manpower. I worked for them way back in 1981-82, and had a great time, and they just now put me to work immediately. They seem to be a good outfit, both then and now.
When the economy is on the upswing, temporary employment is the first to rise, so it is worth a shot. They have me working as a clerk at “Fresh & Easy” a new grocery concept run by Tesco on the West Coast. It could turn permanent, and they are a decent outfit to work for. BTW, they are expanding in California, Arizona and Nevada, so go apply there. They want high energy positive people, so demonstrate that in your interview. Apply at their website.
I have gotten a couple of permanent positions out of Manpower back in the 80’s, and a lot of companies like to hire that way, kind of “try before you buy”, so I know a lot of dopers are looking for work, and this is one suggestion I can offer.
I’ll second this. We’re doing fine now, but in the last recession, after Mr. S lost his job, one of the best jobs he picked up in the interim was temping for Adecco, working at a Smuckers plant. Nice people, treated him well, and after a few months he gained “seniority” and got his pick of shifts.
Even if it doesn’t lead to something permanent, it can be not a bad way to pay the bills.
If my interview this morning doesn’t pan out, I think I might start hitting up the temp agencies. I’d really like the security of getting hired out right, but if that doesn’t work, a temp job is better than nothing.
I know for some people temp work may seem a lowly thing to do, but it’s how I got started in my current career. I went in, worked as hard as I could and was offered a full time position. I’ve had my college mostly paid for and have been pretty happy with how my career has progressed. If nothing else it’s cash coming in each month.
edited to add I suppose I should say that I was working as a temp back in 2001 and have been permanent since late 2001. So my advice is slightly dated, but I still think it’s good advice. I’ve also had family members recently be hired from temp to full time positions.
The ones I’ve worked with in the past are not apparently operating in the area in which I live now, and I haven’t been able to find out much about the local ones.
Thanks for the reminder because it was something I did months ago, had no luck, and forgot to dig some more.
OK I had been to manpower before. It doesn’t look any different from the other ten zillion “search here for jobs in your skill area / location”, like Dice and Monster and CareeerBuilder and all the rest.
Someone please tell me about labor ready? I was given to understand that you just show up and they assign you some work; it may be menial but you don’t have to apply for it, they just take you then and there and they pay you for your day. Is that more or less how it works?
The difference between a temp agency and Monster or CareerBuilder is that these sites are just advertising; the agencies act as intermediaries between a company which needs workers for a short time and the workers. The ad ones are hands-off matchmakers, the agencies are go-betweens.
Most of my interviews are through placement and temp agencies. I get far further with them than I do applying to companies directly. Usually I either get a call from a recruiter about a potential interview, or I check their sites and if I see a job I am fit for I call the recruiter to talk about it. It works better than sending your resume directly to companies through careerbuilder.
Other good ones are Aerotek, Kelly Scientific and Elite Staffing on top of Adecco and Manpower.
My last day at this job will be April 23, so I’ll soon be joining the ranks of unemployed Dopers after 10 years here. My current job started out as a temp job so, despite going through at least half a dozen temp jobs before having one “stick”, I agree to look that route.
(My current employer has made use of the services of an outplacement agency (Right Management) which is apparently owned by Manpower too. Heard nothing but good about this place from friends who have used it.)
You show up to the branch at 5:30 am*, and sign your name. The branch staff send out workers in the order in which they signed up until they run out of workers or jobs.
You have to apply to be a Labor Ready employee, but not to work each specific ticket. Keep in mind, however, that there’s no guarantee that you’ll be dispatched on any given day.
If you’re lucky, you can be assigned to a weekly or continuing ticket, where you don’t have to report to the branch each morning but just go straight to your job site. These may be 50% of the assignments, depending on whether the branch has big clients. You won’t get these until the staff know you well, since you have to be reliable - since you don’t go to the branch first, they may not find out if you don’t show up one day.
I’d never do it, but yeah, it’s better than nothing.