Black Collegian Career Center

We spend about a third of our lives working. So much labor should afford us options—input as to what the time we put in will offer us. For many, temping, as an avenue for employment is preferred, as it affords the ideal way to balance other demands on personal time.

The number of people temping has doubled in the past ten years, and temporary jobs now substantiate the fastest growing segment of the labor market. Record-low unemployment—indicating a strong economy, coupled with ongoing corporate downsizing continues to encourage the trend toward temping as a work option.

Traditionally, temporary work has been viewed in a somewhat negative, one-sided manner—as one that primarily profited the temp service, providing lower wages, job insecurity, and overall worker exploitation in return. But the temping industry of today is far different—serving the purposes of those that accept the assignments as well as those of the temp services and clients who hire.

Temping works well for those who

• Are right out of school and want to beef-up their job skills
• Need extra income for a certain item or circumstance—such as during a holiday season, or to finance a vacation
• Are self-employed, and need to supplement their finances during a lull.

Whatever the reason, temps today, are using the industry to their own advantage.

Shirley Blair, president of Advance Resource — an African-American- owned staffing firm focusing on opportunities in the field of technology— agrees, and says the playing field has evened out for those who temp.

"Temps today are savvy," she said. "To be honest, most people opting for long-term temping versus permanent employment are doing so by choice."

Blair said that for those who choose to temp, control over personal time is often the priority.

"For many people, flexibility is really key—time with family."

And there are other reasons.

"Temping is a door-opener," said Blair. "It gives an opportunity to look at the corporate culture and make an intelligent decision about whether or not you want to work with a particular company."

Melanie agrees. The native of Pennsylvania holds a degree in accounting, and recently completed a two-year temp assignment as a credit analyst.

"I got to work in different areas, and do different types of work," she said. "That broadens my skills and makes me more marketable."

A study by the National Association of Temporary and Staffing Services echoes this notion, citing three out of four temp workers finding their experiences as temps valuable by making them more employable and skilled.

Although Melanie does appreciate the advantages temping offers, the single mother of thee teens says she is looking for permanent work, but decided against staying on with the company for whom she temped.

Blair says that today more than ever, people are, in fact, being placed permanently in jobs that start as temp assignments.

"Companies have gotten smart and are using temp agencies as a way to examine people for an open position—then hiring them," she said.

In the meantime, temps are enjoying many benefits previously reserved for permanent employees such as health and life insurance, sick leave, and retirement funds. It’s an indication of a general attempt by temp firms to offer incentives to a rich market of potential temp employees—a pool that is, today, composed of more than the typical clerical worker.

"With the downsizing talking place, we are seeing more skilled, more educated people temping," Blair said.

"High-end" temp clients such as doctors, lawyers, engineers—even CEO’s, are adopting temping as a career alternative, and increasingly calling more of the shots on their time.

The flexibility of temping does not, however, eliminate responsibility to the temp agency or the client to whom you are assigned. The quality of your work is, in some ways, even more important as you represent not only the client to which you are assigned, but the temp agency as well.

"I treat it as permanent work," Melanie says of her temp assignments. "Being on time, being responsible, being dependable. You want to be able to get a good reference from the client and the temp agency. You do this by establishing yourself as reliable."

And by having the skills.

"Everybody wants to have computer skills," Blair emphasized. "Even if you’re a receptionist! Going into the new millennium, technology is definitely a skill that is in demand."

For those who choose to temp, there are still more advantages. According to a study by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, women who have previously done temp work, earn more than those who have not.

Many people are choosing to make temping a permanent choice. Continuity of assignments is important here, but reputable agencies with an established client-company base will work to make regular assignment matches for valued employees.

Depending on your situation, temping can work for you.

If you’re considering it as an employment alternative and would like more information, read, Temping: The Insider’s Guide, by Richard M. Rogers, available on Amazon.com.