Sure-you're guaranteed an ...sm

hourly wage for the assignment, the terms of which should be made very clear between you and the agency.  I have worked for years doing just temp work, one of my temp jobs lasted almost 2 years.  I just wish the temp agencies were hiring MTs now. 

Two things to get straight up front: Your duties and your hourly wage. They'll usually give you a term on the assignment, i.e., 1 day, 1 week, indefinite (those are the best.. meaning the client wants someone long-term if they work out). They can't guarantee you the length of the assignment - of course, they want you on it as long as possible - they get about $1.00 for every $2.00 you earn.  The agency is your employer - they pay your taxes, issue your check, etc.

As far as testing, from my experience, the larger agencies will usually test you in their facility, which is probably the best, you test once with them, that's it.  The trend with some of the smaller ones which have crept up is this: Since they don't really have the facilities or invested in software to test your properly, and having said that, they can't vouch for your skills to the client - these small agencies are really nothing more than middlemen  -they will try to have you test with the client.

I (this a personal choice) will not "test" with a client on a temporary job - you may choose to do so, however.  I may spend half a day travel, half a day testing - on a job that may last only a half day - remember, with a temp job, you won't know if you'll even have a job tomorrow.  I figure the agency stands to make a lot of money if they place me (at least half of what I make) - they can darn well set up their testing at their office. 

• Has anyone ever worked for a temp agency? sm - CCRider
  • I did many moons ago - Backwards typist
  • actually applied this week - MDmt
  • I used to.. - cj
  • Sure-you're guaranteed an ...sm - Army Brat
  • I did - many years ago
    • Nothing sucks more - than being a temp receptionist!
      • You should have asked questions when - Backwards typist
      • TEMP MT PAYS VERY WELL...sm - Bayou MT
        • working alone - Karen

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hourly wage for the assignment, the terms of which should be made very clear between you and the agency.  I have worked for years doing just temp work, one of my temp jobs lasted almost 2 years.  I just wish the temp agencies were hiring MTs now. 

Two things to get straight up front: Your duties and your hourly wage. They'll usually give you a term on the assignment, i.e., 1 day, 1 week, indefinite (those are the best.. meaning the client wants someone long-term if they work out). They can't guarantee you the length of the assignment - of course, they want you on it as long as possible - they get about $1.00 for every $2.00 you earn.  The agency is your employer - they pay your taxes, issue your check, etc.

As far as testing, from my experience, the larger agencies will usually test you in their facility, which is probably the best, you test once with them, that's it.  The trend with some of the smaller ones which have crept up is this: Since they don't really have the facilities or invested in software to test your properly, and having said that, they can't vouch for your skills to the client - these small agencies are really nothing more than middlemen  -they will try to have you test with the client.

I (this a personal choice) will not "test" with a client on a temporary job - you may choose to do so, however.  I may spend half a day travel, half a day testing - on a job that may last only a half day - remember, with a temp job, you won't know if you'll even have a job tomorrow.  I figure the agency stands to make a lot of money if they place me (at least half of what I make) - they can darn well set up their testing at their office. 

It seems people everywhere are looking for positivity - especially in light of the Katrina disaster, on top of the 9/11 anniversary, the Iraq war, tensions in every aspect of our life.  I'm going to share a personal mantra of mine that has helped me in the past, is soothing me now, and will greatly benefit me in the future as well.

Fasting can be looked at in different ways.  Most of the time, we think of it purely toward food and most of the time associate it with religion.  Fasting, however, is really a drawing back, holding back, purposefully now allowing full satisfaction.  You can do this in any and all aspects of your life.  Fasting as a way of life can change your life -- it has mine.

By not allowing myself to fully satisfy whatever aspect I am engaging, I make room for personal growth and fulfillment from that innate resource of the soul.  I recognize God as my maker, my Father, my Savior.  Some recognize other forms of higher power.  I can speak from MY experience, my beliefs, that fasting in areas of your life as a way of living will grant Him room to give you satisfaction and fulfillment beyond what you could have achieved without it.

You can fast with money -- don't buy everything you want to with the last $5 in your hand, give it away.  Give it to some worthy cause.  Give it to church.  Buy diapers or food for a local shelter.  Don't take all your money for just yourself.

You can fast with time -- give 30 minutes a week to read stories to children at the library, to visit a nursing home and play checkers or just talk and hold the hands of people who have no control over their fate, or volunteer with CASA or a battered women's shelter, or even a school to help with room mothers or watch traffic at the high school, etc.  Don't take all your time for just yourself.

You can fast with your intellect -- give an hour a week to work on changing a problem in your community, your state, your local government, your school district, this nation, this world.  Use your mind and determine a value really close to your heart and then use your intellect to understand where you can help and do so.  Don't take all your intellectual energy for just yourself.

You can fast spiritually -- give an hour or two a week in prayer for simply thanks.  It takes the focus off YOU.  It puts it on OTHERS.  It directs your attention away from what you are inundated with all the time.  Don't take all your prayer time for just yourself.

Of course, you can fast with food as well.  Wednesdays are the middle of the work week and perhaps you could do a juice fast (only juice/water) for the day, or fast from something you usually indulge in, or just simply decide to always leave food uneaten on your plate every meal.  Do it with the remembrance of the millions who die every single day from not having food to eat.  Do it to recognize that we have it all right here in our own backyard.  Do it to recognize the choice you have of whether you WANT to eat, what you want to eat, how much you want, etc.  Maybe you will fast a meal and send the makings of one to a shelter or to a family in need.  Don't take all the food just for yourself.

The list can go on and on and on.  It truly works.  You can start really really small and if you want to increase what you are enjoying, you've a base to start on.  Start with $5 a payperiod to invest in others; 30 minutes a week to give to others; 30 minutes a week studying and working toward resolution of a problem in your world somewhere; 30 minutes a week of prayer for others; a meal a week for others. 

Trust me, it is a different type of sacrifice.  One that only offers positive results and they are guaranteed for everyone. 

in your spa goodies. Congrats!

You stated in your original post that you don't want to work weekends or odd shifts. What is your definition of an odd shift?  Second shift?  Third shift?  Sounds like you want to work M-F on days.  Sounds kind of rigid to me. 

Personally I like second shift, so everyone working days means more work for me! 

THE ADMINISTRATOR.  WHAT DO YOU THINK WE ARE IDIOTS??? 

xx

I am an IC as well, but I have a husband with benefits and makes a fair buck.  I am fortunate after 20 years to able to work from home.  I worked on site for 17 years with a "chocolate cake" the day I left.  Nothing more...  The loyalty in any profession is gone, gone, and gone again. 

Most companies want new employees/ICs that will take low pay and that won't cost much in the way of paying vacation time.

I do take every Friday off and try only to get on to check e-mail, etc. 

However, I wouldn't trade being here for my kids at this point.

There are headaches no matter what profession you are in.  It seems if it isn't one thing it's another. 

Raises?  Out of the question in this profession since most are afraid they will lose the account including myself.  I also underbid my last account because I wanted the account so bad.  I should be charging more. 

It is a neverending cycle really.

But, I still enjoy the work, so I guess that's the difference.  It does take will power to sit and type.  Some people need that boss hanging around to keep the production up and the incentive of a nice paycheck is just not good enough.

Good luck with your new job!  Sounds great! 

I know exactly what you mean.  I've worked for some of the largest teaching hospitals who had staff and resident lists nearly a foot thick but that was in the "old" days when pay was better and computers hadn't been heard of yet.  These modern days if a company can't provide their physician list in the data base where I can search with just a letter or 2, then I'm not going to work for them.  I suspect that lots of your company's MTs object to nonproductive time looking up tons of names and addresses and whether you realize it or not, you're on the clean up committee, getting those jobs when they are thrown back into the pool.  You might try talking it over with your supervisor and offering to continue doing the throw backs provided you're paid to do so.  I did that once when all I was getting day in and day out was the most horrible of horrible dictators.  Much to my surprise they agreed to compensate me appropriately.  Granted, the pickings for really good companies are slim but they are out there, you just have to find the right one.  Most will tell you anything you want to hear until you're hired, which is why I suggested keeping the old job until you've tried the new one on for size. 

Hope this helps!

It's a pretty cool site (I like the name, too).  Hope it helps.  E-mail me anytime if you feel the need & have the time...I'll be around

Have a great rest of the day

1.  You mention Eddie Haskell from Leave It To Beaver, and everyone looks at you like your crazy..."who is Eddie Haskell?"

2.  Most of the people around you have never even heard of the TV show Good Times...much less JJ Walker!

This is my experience, anyway...and I'm only 36!