I’m confident that many, voluntary or otherwise, have changed career paths and the pursuit to find full-time work has become an endeavor different than what they originally thought or even expected. To those who have been around the block, it may have taken less time to find a new position in the past. For those eager to start a career, or are only recently entering the working world, securing a full-time job has been the likely goal. A challenging time though, with this less than favorite event we call a recession, has halted us (for the time being).  

To endure these times, people in transition are finding that working in temporary assignments can offer a way to enhance their resume, teach them a new skill set, or even help them uncover a position they may not have considered by working for a company that was not on their radar. This bridge to gain employment not only offers a paycheck to help pay the bills, it can provide an opportunity to work in a new industry that just may lead to their next career!  

Getting started with a staffing company is the first audition you will have; to achieve success, here is a checklist to consider that can provide you with positive results in earning a second audition. Set a positive tone by presenting yourself in the most professional way to make a lasting impression with your staffing partner; rapport and communication are key. We are consultants to our business partners we staff for. Just as important as it is for you to secure a job, it’s also equally important that we source and place the correct candidate to match the business in need of our services. 

Think about the impression you want to project with the staffing liaison and understand that your interactions impact the decisions we make or thoughts we gather from your actions. We are influenced positively or negatively. 

Audition #1: Getting the Part
Communication — Voicemail, email, and the phone interview
If you leave a voice mail, give the person you are trying to reach until the end of the business day to call you back. Generally, a call back within 24 hours is professional courtesy. Same goes for email communication. Live, direct contact with your staffing rep is our preferred business practice when issues come up. Don’t use email communication to report something, it makes a statement equal to avoidance. 

When following up and interacting with your staffing liaison, be sure that you have listened to your voice mail message. Caller ID was a great invention, but just calling back is not always helpful. Know the name of the staffing representative that called you and ask for that person by name. Have the mindset that you are always on and “in audition mode” with everyone you come into contact with, including the front desk receptionist. If your actions are less than pleasant or professional with the first person you interact with, will that help you?

A crisp, confident, upbeat, energetic, and friendly voice tone is considered excellent verbal communication skills and portrays you as “sharp” when having a phone conversation.

When responding to inquiries, explain in brief summary your responsibilities. Use statements explaining what you handled using “I” statements and avoiding stating “we” as this does not reflect your specific duties. Leave out elaborate, unnecessary details.

Mirror the person who you are talking with at the time. If they are to-the-point then use that approach.  Remember, you are the interviewee. Respond to questions when asked and sell yourself, but don’t overpower the interviewer who called you. 

Be mindful of background noise and distractions. Don’t ask the person who called you to hold and then carry on a discussion with someone else. In addition, eating or smoking while having a phone conversation or interview is never a good idea.                       

Audition #2: You Got the Part
Congratulations! Your previous experience, knowledge, and interview skills have landed you a temporary job assignment! The audition doesn’t end here though. Temporary assignments can sometimes turn into full-time jobs and the managers you meet on a temporary assignment can turn into a valuable reference down the road. It’s time now to keep cool and collected while trying out for the part.

While we understand and respect that you offer an impressive background, or previously may have held higher level responsibilities, when it comes to temp work, those skills may not be required to perform the job you are working. 

In the world of temporary assignments, act like you have a million dollars and work like you owe a million dollars. In other words, don’t show desperation, show your work ethic (we all understand the paycheck is important).    

When starting your assignment, before you make any quick assumptions or decisions, be fair to yourself. Get a feel for the company, the culture, the people, the personalities and guide yourself with your intuitive skills. 

Beyond skills and experience level, employers consider personality, attitude, and ability of a temporary employee to fit in. Be pleasant, courteous, ask questions for clarity if needed, dress the part, and arrive 5 minutes early to be at the top of your game.

Personal situations and private information should be left at the door when you go to your assignment. Refrain from using social media and making excessive personal calls while at work. Taking extended lunches and breaks are sure ways to be defeated in your temp audition.      

Until you are familiar with the organization, a good rule of thumb is to stay within boundaries, follow instructions, and keep opinions to yourself. Offer your ideas if requested to do so, otherwise focus on doing good work and showcasing your abilities and professionalism.

Any performer, dancer or otherwise, will tell you that to land a big audition you have to keep smiling, be prepared, and give ‘em what they are looking for. To land your big job audition, the same rules apply. Follow the tips mentioned above and you’re sure to “break a leg”.   

Angie Smathers, Celebrity Staff Senior Account Manager

About Angie Smathers

Angie Smathers joined Celebrity Staff in 1998 and has been in her current role as a senior account manager for the Lincoln branch since 2005. Angie has had great success cultivating and maintaing lasting business relationships with clients across all industries. She has worked with hundreds of businesses and made successful candidate placements that have resulted in long-term commitments and career paths. She enjoys identifying top talent and assisting clients to help make smart hiring decisions that meet business goals. In 2007 and 2008 Angie earned President Club, Celebrity Staff’s top sales award. She is a member of Lincoln Human Resource Management Association (LHRMA) and has served on the planning committee for the Nebraska Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) conference. She is currently studying to complete her Certified Staffing Professional designation and in her free time she enjoys time with her family and friends, traveling, exercising and looks forward to taking up a new hobby — golf!

The American Staffing Association reports that staffing companies employ 2.66 million people every business day and 79 percent of them work full-time, even on a contract basis, which is virtually the same as the rest of the work force. Of these workers, 77 percent say it’s a good way of securing a full-time position.

In my six plus years with Celebrity Staff, I have seen many contract employees get hired on full-time with the client they were assigned. In my experience, these figures add up. I have even seen companies create a position for a contract employee that did not previously exist because they were so impressed with the employee’s abilities they felt that the company would benefit long term by keeping that employee on its payroll.

Once, I interviewed a candidate who was relocating to the Lincoln area and was looking for full-time work. In the meantime, she felt that working in a temporary position may benefit her in deciding what type of company she would enjoy working with best and began a temporary assignment making around $10 or $11 an hour (which, it should be noted, was far less than her last position). After approximately two weeks, the company felt she was such an excellent employee they made her an offer to become a full-time employee and created a position that was comparable in salary to her last one. With any success story, there are dos and don’ts to consider while working as a contract employee. 

While many clients treat contract workers as regular full-time employees, this does not mean that you ARE a full-time employee or that you have the job “in the bag”, as they say. Whether you realize it or not, you, as a contract employee, are being interviewed on a daily basis while on assignment. How well you perform will undoubtedly affect the length of your assignment and any future possibilities as an employee with the client. With that in mind, here are some key things to remember when you’re a contract employee. 

Some of the dos:

• Do report to your assignment on time or even early, everyday.
• Do work your contract assignment like it is a professional, full-time position.
• Do dress within the guidelines of the company’s policy.
• Do notify your staffing company account manager when you need time off or if you have questions. 
• Do take an added interest in the company if you like the company. Your attitude toward your assignment is reviewed daily and if the client thinks you are interested in working for them it can only help you if they have a full-time position open up.

Some of the don’ts:  

• Don’t forget to keep your account manager informed about how you’re doing in the position. Account managers want to know how you’re doing in the position like if you love it or even hate it. Your account manager is your ally and they are the one who can help you land a full-time position if one opens up.
• Only bring items to the assignment that are professional and work related.  Do not bring personal items such as pictures, heaters/fans, food items, etc.  Keep your desk professional and uncluttered to show that you are putting your best foot forward and focusing only on the responsibilities of the position.
• Avoid divulging too much information about your personal life.  As with any professional environment, personal information should be kept to a minimum.  Should you and a colleague choose to spend time together outside of work, this would be an appropriate time to give details about your personal life.

Whether it’s increasing your experience, taking on a new type of position, or learning more about employers in a new area, working as a temporary or contract employee has many benefits and has the potential to open many doors including helping to get a full-time position.

By keeping the contract employee dos and don’ts in mind, you’re well on your way to your own contract employee success story or next full-time position.

Elizabeth Ambri, Celebrity Staff Branch Manager

About Elizabeth Ambri, Branch Manager
Elizabeth has worked for Celebrity Staff since 2003. She was hired as an account manager and since then she has been promoted several times to her current position of branch manager. Elizabeth is responsible for cultivating new business, servicing her customers, and for the overall operations of the Lincoln branch. Elizabeth has a master’s degree in human resources, a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and psychology and is working toward a CPC. Off the clock she enjoys spending time with her husband of six weeks and their family. Elizabeth also enjoys hiking, biking, and playing golf.