As a soon-to-be graduate you will most likely be making plans to carve your way into the workplace and become a contributing member of society. But the job market is a crowded place.
With competition for positions fierce, the best approach to getting work (especially if you’re in a hurry to find one fast) is to sign up with an agency specialising in temporary support staff recruitment.
The argument in favour of temporary work assignments
If the thought of the loss of your maintenance grant keeps you up at night, or you’re worried about how you’re going to pay back that student debt/loan, finding a job as soon as possible should be your top priority.
While a fulltime position is ideal, this often takes time to find. One recruiting software company puts the length of time of an average job search process at over six weeks. (Of course much depends on the industry you intend working in.)
One of the best options to earn disposable income quickly is through a reputable recruitment agency placement that specialises in temporary support positions. In addition to improving your financial situation, temping is a great platform from which to network and find you that ideal fulltime job.
The scope for temporary work placements
Recent research findings published by IHS Markit/ Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) surveys conducted in late 2017 showed a rise in billings for temporary staff. Temporary placements produced total revenue worth £28.2 billion. The report also revealed the length of time of a temporary job placement was on average 17 weeks with 1 percent achieving assignments of 52 weeks and longer.
On the critical role recruitment agencies play in supporting businesses, Kevin Green, REC chief executive said, “Our data show that as candidate availability declines more and more businesses are turning to agencies to help them source the talent they need.”
Choose the best recruitment agency for you
Using a recruitment agency to help you find work is convenient and speeds up the process to finding work relatively quickly. Luckily, recruitment agencies abound and there are local and national agencies to choose from. Many specialize in the hospitality industry, IT, finance and banking, marketing and retail sectors.
They provide businesses with temporary support staff as and when required and will already know of positions available that fit your skillset and interest.
6 questions to ask your recruitment consultant
Here are 6 questions to ask your recruitment consultant when looking for a temp position:
- What types of companies/ industry sectors do you represent?
- What types of temporary support roles do you fill?
- Do you offer any kind of skills training? Is it free?
- What is the estimated hourly rate I can expect for the temporary jobs I qualify for?
- Will you notify me if a suitable position opens up or should I check in with you regularly?
- What happens once I accept a job offer?
Don’t leave job hunting until the last minute. Experts advise that taking your future career path in hand is critical before you leave university.
Of course, time constraints may apply, with exam preparation taking priority and deadlines looming. Being proactive and planning ahead is key to managing student workloads while still finding time to devote to getting a job. Choosing to temp through a recruitment agency just makes things easier.
Zulfah Abrahams writes for Inspiring Interns, which specializes in sourcing candidates for internships and graduate jobs.