Employment and Temporary Agencies
Employment agencies can be excellent job searching resources.
Need work fast?
Some employment agencies can place you in a position within a day.
Want to find a long-term job that's just right for you?
Many agencies focus on matching your skills to job openings. Some give you the chance to "test-drive" a position in a temp-to-hire placement.
No cost to you
Agencies almost always get paid by employers, so their services are free to job seekers.
Read about the two main types of employment agencies below.
Temp agencies match workers with short-term positions
Temp (short for "temporary") agencies recruit and assign employees to employers for short-term assignments. They are sometimes known as staffing services or contract firms. When a worker's short-term assignment is complete (the employer no longer needs the staff member), then the temp agency looks for another assignment for the employee.
Benefits of using a temp agency and doing temporary work include:
- Build skills and meet financial needs while continuing to look for work.
- Gain work experience, develop skills, obtain training, and increase networking contacts.
- Possibly get more flexible hours or working conditions to accommodate your personal situation.
- Check out an employer or an occupation before making a commitment to training, a particular career, or a particular employer.
- It's easier to get a job when you have a job.
- Sometimes employers offer permanent positions to temp workers who work out well.
However, most temporary employees do not have health insurance, although it may be available after a set period of time. Generally they do not qualify for employment benefits such as paid vacation days, sick days, or holidays.
Recruiting services place people in permanent jobs
Recruiting services search for qualified candidates for permanent, full-time positions. These firms are also called permanent employment agencies, headhunters, or executive search firms. In this type of placement, the recruiting service recruits, screens, and then refers qualified candidates to the employer for consideration. When an employer hires a candidate referred by a recruiting service, the employer pays a fee to the agency.
Benefits of using a recruiting service include:
- You often get access to unadvertised openings.
- A third party (the recruiting firm) is working to match your skills and long-term goals to a job.
Tips for working with employment agencies
Before you work with any employment agency, it's important to know exactly what services you can expect and what will be expected of you. You should also find out whether it will cost you anything, and if so, how much. Here are some additional tips:
- Be professional. In all dealings, treat agencies as you would a potential employer. In the case of temp agencies, they are employers.
- Be available. Most agencies expect you to make yourself available when they offer you a placement. If you turn down more than a couple of opportunities, they may not be as quick to consider you for future opportunities.
- Expand your job search. Use the services of agencies, but do not make them your primary job search tool or use them exclusively.
- Check your benefits. If you are receiving government assistance, such as unemployment insurance, your benefits may be affected by temporary-work wages. Short-term wages may reduce your benefit amount. However, they may also extend the length of time that you can receive benefits. Before accepting or rejecting a specific opportunity, check with the agency from whom you receive benefits. Get information about Minnesota's Unemployment Insurance (UI) Program.
