Temporary or Contract Work - Selecting the Right Consultancy

The Sheridan Guide for Candidates

Today's workforce needs to be mobile and flexible. Changing work patterns mean that a job for life is far from the norm. Many individuals do not want or are unable to take a permanent job for a variety of reasons. Working as a temporary or contract worker gives them opportunities they need to support themselves and in many cases the flexibility they need to fit to their lifestyle. Some people, for example in the IT or engineering sectors consider working as a temporary or on a contract basis to be part of their career pattern.

The growth of temporary and contract working is a phenomenon of the 1990s and ensures such work in increasingly offered in a full time basis, i.e. 5 days work per week is often available (though not always in the same client location).

Selecting the Right Recruitment Consultancy

This period of your career can be just as important as any other and can lead to new opportunities, new skills and a new future. As a temporary worker you rely heavily on your recruitment consultancy to highlight job opportunities for you. The partnership you have with your consultancy must be strong and effective, so your choice is crucial.

You can dramatically improve your chances of selecting a good consultancy by choosing a member of the recruitment industry association, REC. Over 5,000 REC members operate in virtually all sectors of the employment market. All REC members work to strict Codes of Good Recruitment Practice, which stipulate best recruitment and customer handling practice. As well as stringent membership criteria, REC has a complaints and disciplinary procedure. Employers or job candidates who feel that they have not been properly treated have the right to ask REC to investigate.

Once you have identified consultancies you would like to work with, contact them to discuss the type of work you are looking for. They are likely to ask you to make an appointment to visit one of their consultants. Some specialist consultancies are more likely to ask for a CV to be submitted.

When you go for an interview, take a CV, details of referees and your National Insurance (NI) number. Treat the interview just as you would any other. Recruitment agencies in REC membership will want to check your references before you go to an assignment. You may also be required to have your skills assessed formally through testing.

Explain honestly why you want to work as a temporary and the type of companies you would like to work for and the skills you can offer. Ask the consultant about availability of work and whether any training is available. Make sure you know how you will be paid and that your recruitment consultant has your P45 and bank details before your first assignment so that they can pay you as soon as possible. Recruitment consultancies have their own individual payment systems and may require different action from you. It is therefore important you gain a clear understanding of your recruitment consultancy's procedures prior to commencing work. If you are registered with more than one consultancy, do not assume that the procedures are the same.

Once you are registered the recruitment consultancy will start to search for suitable vacancies. Talk to them about how they will put you forward. If the consultancy intends to submit a CV to a prospective employer tell the consultancy if you would prefer them to contact you in advance. This avoids organisations you may not wish to work for being given your details. When you work most recruitment consultancies will credit your bank account directly one week in arrears.

Do keep in touch with your recruitment consultancy. Those candidates who appear most keen to work are understandably contacted first.

Some temporary jobs are on a 'contract' basis whereby the client pays you and deducts your tax and National Insurance. If this is to be the arrangement the recruitment consultancy will of course tell you, and the client may want to meet you first for an interview. If you work on this basis the assignment is likely to be for three months or longer and you should be prepared to give your commitment for this period.

First Assignment

When the consultancy offers you an assignment think about whether you can be available for its duration, for the hours required and whether transport arrangements fit. The recruitment consultant will confirm the rate of pay with you at this point. They should also tell you whom you would be working for and report to, and some house rules such as dress code, smoking policies, meal breaks. You should also be informed if there are any health and safety issues to be aware of or if you are required to provide any protective clothing. Also ask about what, if any, benefits the recruitment consultancy offers you.

Temporary workers are required to 'fit in' rapidly and easily. You will develop flexibility and adaptability as you gain more temping or contracting experience. Be enthusiastic at all times.

You will need to fill in a time sheet at the end of the week and to ask your supervisor at the client firm to sign it, thus verifying your hours of work.

Follow Up

Gaining customer feedback and altering your services where required is an essential part of business survival and development. It is worth asking your recruitment consultant if the companies you have worked for were happy with the service you provided and if there are any aspects you need to improve on.