Excuse me, could you find me a fucking job already?

The BBQ Pit
1

I’ve been an administrative temp through a certain well-known worldwide temporary placement service (let’s call them “K”) for quite some time. Off and on, in between permanent jobs, I’d say for oh, over twelve years. And they’ve always been good to me - found me work, kept giving me more money, the jobs were great, and for over two years I worked at the same company in several different departments back in Philadelphia before I moved. You couldn’t get enough of me - all the people I worked for hated to see me go, had nothing but good things to say about me and my work performance, you praised me left and right, we worked together well, and so on. The last assignment I had I even wanted to apply for as a permanent position, but I’d already decided to relocated. You were sad to see me go. I looked forward to a bright new locale.

Then I moved to San Diego.

It took you a few weeks to find me a job when I got out here. That’s cool, I understand the temp market fluxuates. And it was about 25% less than what I was making (and by all rights, based on my experience, should be making) at my last assignment, but even that’s ok - I need the money, and your branch doesn’t know me yet. So I took it. Fine. 8 weeks. Then it ends. It takes you another three weeks to find me another job - at the same pay scale, and below my skill set. Um, well, fine. I’m frustrated and bored, but fine. I’m trying to be understanding here. Then you call me out of the blue and ask me all kinds of questions about my history with “K” because you’ve picked me to be your branch’s best representative employee for some corporate big-wigs coming into town. Well, that’s nice - no perks for me, but it makes the branch look good. Anything I can do to help the cause. Then that assignment ended.

That was almost 4 weeks ago.

Now, explain to me again why you’re not able to find a job for your best employee?

Don’t give me that “job market” excuse - you yourself told me that you didn’t have enough people to fill all the jobs you had open. You even lost staff because you weren’t filling enough jobs. So you have the jobs. Why aren’t you placing me in them? I also told you I’d continue to work under my expected payscale because I needed the work. Still, nothing. I have a broad range of experience and could do any job you have. So what’s the deal? What do I have to do? I call you almost every day, I even stop in the office from time to time - all smiles and pleasant, just to make sure I’m a person, not just a warm body to fill a position, to make sure you know who I am and will remember me when a job comes open. Still, nothing. I am agog.

I actually went back to another temp agency I’d signed up with a few years ago because you’re so incompetent that you can’t get me a job. I felt disloyal doing so. But I need a fucking job. And they seem to be much more on the ball than you are - I expect to get something from them in a week, the way they talk. They don’t even know me, and they were gushing over my resume and experience.

So here’s the scoop - your best employee is displeased. What are you going to do about it? Find me a fucking job, you rat-biting, leprosy-laden puswads!

{ahem}

Thank you.

Esprix

2

Disloyal?

Esprix, loyalty is a reciprocal emotion. It’s self-destructive to be loyal to an entity which has proven itself incapable of being loyal to you.

(I find amusing the rise in “corporate loyalty” rhetoric at the same time that the dominant ideology requires that corporations be disloyal to their employees and communities the instant it becomes unprofitable to do so.)

3

Esprix,

Is it possible (or perhaps, is it advisable?) to ask a favor of the branch in Philly, to wit: perhaps your former manager there could call up the “puswad” in San Diego and pull some strings/put in a good word for you? Or are all branches pretty much separate franchises?

Just a thought from a fellow who really doesn’t know how these things work.

Sir Rhosis

4

Your preferred temp agency in San Diego is not acting in a way that I have experienced agencies acting; if you are a reliable worker, are willing to work under your payscale and experience level, complete the jobs well, and keep asking them for new jobs, they should be ecstatic to have you. There is something truly odd going on at this agency, it would seem. Maybe it will just take them a little time to warm up to you. They really don’t seem interested, though, and that is truly their loss.

5

I know, I know! You’re asking for a fucking job in San Diego, when obviously, they have a surplus of fuckers. What they need is people willing to be fucked, which is obviously happening to you.

So why aren’t you getting paid for it?
(sorry, I’m in a mirthful mood)

6

Exprix

During my working career, I spent many years doing temp work, especially when my daughter was growing up. You were lucky to have an agency that was good to you and worked hard for you. I was lucky in the beginning of my temping to have a counselor who was good to me and worked hard for me. When she married and left the field, all bets were off.

Your agency is only as good as the jobs they find for you and if the branch you’re working with now isn’t finding what you should be getting, it’s time to leave with no guilt.

I also think that underselling yourself is a mistake. Years ago, my husband took jobs from his agency that were below his skill level because things were slow, but the jobs starting getting shittier and shittier. When they offered him a spot moving file cabinets for $7 an hour (how much would a moving man cost???), he decided that it was time to change agencies.

7

There are probably good reasons for seeking temp work rather than permanent, but mightn’t a permanent job be better? My own (anecdotal) experience is that temp agencies are much better at finding temp work than permanent positions.

The typical temp agency (at least in law) gives the employee only 40-60% of what they charge the business. If you found a permanent position doing the same work at the same pay, you could still make more money than with a temp agency and the business would pay out less.

8

Also, ditch the crappy SD temp agency. Loyalty has to be earned. You would be justified in feeling some loyalty to the Philly office, but not the new one.

I say drop them like the NASDAQ.

Just my $.01 1/2

9

It being San Diego, could it be they only have a surplus of people willing to fuck men? Would broadening your job skills, ie: heterosexual sex, increase your opportunities?

I’ve had pimps give me shit for talking to other agencies. TFB, if they can’t get me an assignment.

10

They always have to ask, don’t they? “Have you registered with any other agencies?” Well, of course I have. Until you start paying me whether you find me work or not, I’m going to register with as many agencies as it takes to pay my rent. Sheesh.