I’ve held about ten temping jobs. Some have been great, some have been awful. Points I learned the hard way:
1 / Big, national agencies get the best jobs - and you have more chance of getting work through them (generally). On the other hand, they will treat you like cattle: there are dozens of temps for each job, so you really don’t count as an individual.
2 / Many agencies lie. I’ve turned up at “data entry” jobs to find that they’re telesales. Agencies will deny they misled you, but I know for a fact that some of the biggest agencies worldwide (Adecco, for one) are happy to use any description of a job that will get someone in the door.
3 / Big agencies are unforgiving. I’ve been sacked from one and verbally abused for walking out on a job (one that, surprisingly enough, didn’t match the description I was offered one bit). They are not nice people to cross. The contract comes before the temp in every case.
4 / Don’t expect challenging, stimulating work. Temps aren’t hired for their brainpower (usually) but as an extra pair of hands. I have worked on some enjoyable jobs, but usually it’s typing, filing, data entry, phone work and even manual labour (in an office job). Make sure you don’t go in expecting to be treated as you would in a permanent job.
5 / Now for the positive side: the experience can be very good. I learned an awful lot about what I would and wouldn’t want to do permanently. It can also look good on a CV - over a short period of time. Temping over several years can make you look like an indecisive jobhopper, but a range of jobs can be a great selling point in terms of experience and an ability to hit the ground running in unfamiliar environments. I believe it has helped me get permanent work.
6 / Any experiences, good or bad, are confidence builders and help in permanent job interviews. If you learn anything, you can sell that to an interviewer.
7 / The people you work with can be lovely. I had one fantastic job in Sydney - data entry 8 hours a day, occasionally standing in for the receptionist - but the people I worked with were such a good laugh I didn’t care at all. They may never remember your name (you become “the temp”) but nobody expects you to slave your guts out.
8 / You have to act responsibly, but it’s one of the few working occasions where you can relax at home afterwards - temps don’t take work home (unless you’re getting overtime).
9 / Overtime can be fantastic.
10 / If you’re remotely good as a temp, agencies love you. The standard is often so low that anyone vaguely competent can almost pick and choose which assignment they want.