A Message for Employee and Employer

Hello, temps and future temps I've been one of you for quite a while. Temping encompasses great people with the urge to expand their learning base. Every position is open to new tasks that can push you into a higher permanent career, if you're smart enough to take advantage of it.

Here are major guidelines for being successful and being at the top of everyone's call back list.

Do arrive on time. However, if you really want to impress, arrive early, even if the assignment is only for a few hours or a day. Oh, and don't be antsy about leaving exactly on time. The willingness to work a little harder and a little longer is never wasted.

Don't just sit there. Once you've been led through your assignment and find it may encompass a whole hour out of that long, long eight-hour day, volunteer for other jobs. When your contact on the job says, "It seems to be a waste of time to train on more than phones and filing when you won't be here but a day." Your response (with a smile, always with a smile) "Don't think of it as training for a day; think of it as training for future times you need someone. If you call for me, I'll already know enough to be of real assistance to you."

Make suggestions: It's not always possible to do so, but in some offices, you can see where help is needed that you're capable of providing. Suggest how you could assist. The contact saying no is the worst that can happen and, who knows, she just might say yes. This shows initiative and initiative is a very good thing to possess.

Be excited when you're given an unfamiliar task: When you're trusted with an unfamiliar task, you have hit the ultimate reward in temping. You are learning something else to add to your resume. Reach out with mind and body to embrace the new job. It means somebody trusts you enough to give you a chance. Don't let them think they squandered their trust.

SMILE: No matter who you see, SMILE. It costs nothing, makes you seem incredibly friendly and puts forward a great image for you and your Temp Agency.

Do not grumble, gossip or gripe: Sometimes it's way too easy to get so comfortable on a long-term assignment, it's easy to fall into the gripe and gossip trap. Be on guard every moment you are on a temp job. You are not a regular employee. You are not a manager. You are not free to give everyone the story of your life or discuss office politics. You jump into the trap and it will snap shut

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