# Temp agency **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 15, 2004, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temp-agency/269433 "2004-10-15T19:15:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Brian\_Molko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b77776/32.png) [@Brian\_Molko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brian_Molko)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temp-agency/269433/1 "2004-10-15T19:15:55Z")
Im 18 and I want to get with a temp agency but I have no clue how to. I dont know if im suppose to go to the office and apply or call or what im suppose to say when I call. Also I dont have any work experience only volunteer experience doing clerical office stuff. What am I suppose to do? ---
**Author:** ![missbunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/76d3ee/32.png) [@missbunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missbunny)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temp-agency/269433/2 "2004-10-15T19:31:26Z")
You should call whatever agencies you’re interested in and say, “I’d like to register for temp work. Do I need to make an appointment to come in and talk to someone? And what do you think is best to do - should I bring a resume in?” They’ll be happy to tell you what the procedure is. If you don’t have a lot of experience, well obviously you’re not going to be assigned to a CEO’s office but you can still get work. If you can type, you can get work. They will probably make you take a typing test so don’t lie about how fast you are. Agencies often offer other work, not just office clerical. Lots of stores who need inventories done hire from temp agencies. I’d imagine you need very little experience for that, and as you temp more, you get more experience to put down on your resume. You may even get a permanent offer out of it - I was offered a job at almost every place I temped. Good luck! ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temp-agency/269433/3 "2004-10-15T19:32:44Z")
Just call them up and tell them you’re interested in working, and they’ll probably set you up with an appointment to come in, get interviewed, take tests, whatever their drill is. Your volunteer office work should be enough to get you in the door. There are lots of basic clerical tasks that get temped out – filing, copying, etc. There are also unskilled factory jobs that need people who will show up every day. My husband has been temping and subbing since he got downsized in 2001, and just showing up and doing the work seems to put him head and shoulders above the rest. Good luck! ---
**Author:** ![muttrox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a8b319/32.png) [@muttrox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muttrox)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temp-agency/269433/4 "2004-10-15T20:06:56Z")
Based on three crappy years of my life, I would say that you can walk into any agency and they will be glad to talk to you. They always want warm bodies. They will assign you to the worst job they have. If you do well, they you move you to a better job. And so on, until you are working at as best a job as you can do, ITO. ---
**Author:** ![ParentalAdvisory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@ParentalAdvisory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParentalAdvisory)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temp-agency/269433/5 "2004-10-15T20:28:12Z")
And almost all of them have drug testing, so watch out for that too. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temp-agency/269433/6 "2004-10-15T20:51:03Z")
The two largest temp services, [Kelly Services](http://www.kellyservices.us/eprise/main/internet/kel/home.html) and Manpower, offer free training in office software (MS Word, Excel, etc.). Ask for it, and you’ll improve your skills and your employability. ---
**Author:** ![Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tastes_of_chocolate/32/3232_2.png) [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tastes_of_Chocolate)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temp-agency/269433/7 "2004-10-15T21:41:44Z")
Until you find a temp agency you like / that works for you, consider applying at more then one. Back in the early 90’s I temped for a while after I switched cities. The first place I contacted had me come in and fill out paperwork, take a typing test etc… And then they NEVER called me back about openings. First I figured I was unemployable, then reality set in and I decided that they were twits. I found a second agency, filled out the paperwork, took the typing test, and was called with an assignment the very next week. ---
**Author:** ![AngelicGemma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/439d5e/32.png) [@AngelicGemma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AngelicGemma)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2004, 9:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temp-agency/269433/8 "2004-10-16T09:25:16Z")
I worked as a temp over the summer. I just turned up at their office and told them I’d like to sign up. I filled in some forms, I came back a few days later to do some tests to prove I can use a computer, and about 2 weeks later I was working.