Temporary employment with a company involves the on-boarding of an individual to complete an assignment for a predetermined length of time.

Overview of the Temp Employment

The use of temporary employees, often referred to as temps, has been a business practice for decades. Temporary employment with a company involves the on-boarding of an individual to complete an assignment for a predetermined length of time. Often times, businesses will reach out to temp agencies to request a qualified individual for their situation.

Temp employment provides numerous advantages for employers. Since the employment period is only temporary, there is no need for businesses to offer or invest in benefits for temps. In addition, if a temp isn't performing to standard it's much easier to end the work arrangement than it is to relieve a regular employee of their duties. However, more important than either of these advantages is that temp employment provides two opportunities to employers: buys time to find a permanent solution or possibly provides the right candidate.

Often when there is rush to fill an open position, the proper time is not invested in finding the right person for the job. Having a temp in place allows management the opportunity to take their time finding the most qualified candidates. On the other hand, businesses may also offer individuals temp-to-perm positions. This allows the company to hire in a temp and observe their performance in the live work environment. If performance meets or exceeds standards then the individual may be offered the position permanently. This is very beneficial as many times management narrows down candidates to one or two, but may still be uncertain that they have found the right one for the job.

Agencies are great resources when it comes to temp employment. Temp agencies are businesses that specialize in screening and recruiting candidates for job placement. Agencies can serve as recruiters for businesses and personal agents for individuals. Companies select which agencies specialize in jobs relevant to their workforce and notify the agencies when there are openings. The agencies work to recruit individuals, test their skills and refer qualified candidates to the appropriate companies. Many agencies offer services free to job seekers and earn their profits from fees charged to the companies they recruit for. Other agencies may charge a fee to job seekers to pay for the time agents will invest in trying to find a job that matches the individual's skills and experience.

Temporary employment has its advantages for job seekers too. While trying to find a full time regular job, many individuals register with one or more temp agencies. This allows them to take various short term assignments to earn some money and gain diverse experience until they find a permanent position. Temp agencies can also help place job seekers into temp-to-perm positions to help end the search for a job.

Temp employment does not have to be a back up plan while looking for something better. Some people can make a living by being a temp. A reliable and skilled temp is often easy to place and can be requested by companies once they've built up a reputation. For people who like variety, temp employment is a fun way to have an income without committing to one office or job for long term. Some assignments may be a few days, while others could last weeks or even a couple of months.

Overall, temporary employment is beneficial to everyone involved. Companies get the coverage they need from a skilled and qualified individual without hassle. Agencies profit by working to fill open positions and place qualified job seekers. Job seekers get work when they need it and get assistance finding a permanent solution that works best for them.