Happy Administrative Professionals Day

Yes, to all the temps out there that are working as Administrative Professionals...Happy Administrative Professionals Day. I think that used to be "Happy Secretaries Day".

Have things really changed that much? I mean, besides from using a computer to using the old typewriter, although sometimes we still use those. In fact, I sort of miss the typing part, the sounds tapping away as you write, er or re-write what your "boss" wanted you to write.

For all the faxing, copying, calling, e mailing, memos, chatting, answering phones, greeting clients in the lobby, fixing the magazines just right in the lobby, smiling even though you are just there the one whole day, just remember it's money coming in.

So smile and Happy day to you, and remember you are more than "Just the temp."

Tests you may have to take

If you didn't know this already and have been out of the workforce for a while, you can always try temping or contracting. Some places are pretty good about getting you a new job, although temporary, and it will bring some money in.

Just so you are aware, some places will test you on your computer knowledge. It doesn't matter to them if you have 12 + years of Excel or Word, they want you to prove it. Of course the testing does determine how good you actually are.

For administrative positions they will most likely test you on Word, Typing and Excel. By the way, the testing software is not always the software you are used to, it can be somewhat aggravating for some people if they are not used to it. My advice is if you aren't sure about the question, then you do get to either guess or skip, but know that every wrong answer goes against your score.

That's right, they score you. Typing usually has the counting of how many key strokes you did and the accuracy. If it's data entry, they will test you on word data entry and alpha data entry (yes, two different things).

Now, I've pretty much done all the tests that they are giving out, let's just hope I can keep this job a little longer and not do any more tests.

I figure it is a good way to practice your skills. I would suggest if you don't already have these skills under your belt to learn them, as it might just get you your next temping gig.

Good luck.

Being the temp in lay off time

Well, this is a stressful time for everyone, including contractors. That being said, sometimes companies will lay off employees over contractors, and some companies will lay off the temps (or contractors).

I found it interesting that a friend of mine (who I can not name for business reasons) asked me for my advice on being a contractor. Wow, my advice? Really? Who'd a thunk that after all this time, that someone actually wanted my advice.

Well, I basically told him the deal. Here are my tips if you are thinking about contracting;

1. Most of the time, some agencies WILL NOT PAY the benefits! Unless it is a national agency, but most of the time, this is not the case.
2. That if you decide that you do want to contract, that the agency will ask you what you are looking for, but know that they will ask the company for their own negotiating price, what ever that might be.
3. Know that tomorrow could be your last day, or today, depending on the situation. If you are in a long term temp role, they could extend you, but you never do know.
4. You will hardly ever be invited to partake in meetings, unless you are the executive admin for that group, and good luck putting in your two cents.
5. Know that you will be asked to do outside of what you are required...you are not just an employee to the company, but you are really the employee of the agency.

So, that's my tips for now, please do make a comment if you have any...I would love to hear what you think.

Thanks.

Sometimes you just can't win

You know, as the temp, there are sometimes that you just have to do the job requested, and you just can't win.

Even when they hire on a new person, and that person didn't understand the concept of time and being on time, and then the company gets rid of her, and then they don't hire you again, but hire on a new person again, and you have to train that new person all over again...oh wait, I am talking about my situation, but I don't think I'm alone here.

You can pick your own battles, but really you have no one to complain to except your direct manager, and then if he/she won't help you, you can go to your HR person, but good luck with that, and even if you call your agency, you may be out of a job.

My advice, just remember that sometimes you just can't win and then go home and have a margarita.

Do put in your own stories if you like, I won't mind a bit, after all, I'm just the temp.

My first temping job back in the early 1990s

So, now it's time when I tell you all where I started my temping career. I'll do a little background first though.

I went to College at University of Lowell, College of Music. Yes, music. I have been playing music, but after college, I realized quickly that music is a great way to relieve stress, but it's not great for making money, unless you become famous or have a few music albums out. I had worked previously before, but nothing like a real day job, mostly retail.

I went to Adecco http://www.adecco.com/Channels/adeccoNewVI/home/home1.asp and they told me that since I didn't have much experience, that they just had one thing.

To help sell papers on the streets of Boston. Massachusetts. Not just a normal paper, no. The New York Times.

If you happen to live in Massachusetts, a lot of Bostonians don't really like New Yorkers too much, in fact, they love to hate the New York Yankees, but they are intelligent enough to know the difference of a good paper.

Back in the 1990s, the media was a little different, and people actually liked reading the newspaper. We didn't have the internet as we know it today, so I guess I was lucky in all of my timing.

My job was to hand out free papers on the streets of Boston (yes, outside), and I had this whole "shtick" where I would yell at the top of my lungs "Free paper here, get your free paper, I'm talking free people, F R E E , that's right, where else can you get a free newspaper, and get yourself a copy right here, best crossword in the world, right here FREE!" Yes, I'm yelling all the words free as loud as I can.

The Boston Globe guy across the street was mad that I was yelling so loud, that he was losing business, and actually came over to me to ask me if I would shut up or move. So, I moved. After all, this was my job, and I was being paid to do this.

Of course, there was a catch to the "free" paper. As soon as someone was interested in taking a free paper, I would grab the paper, and then proceed to ask them if they would also like to get a subscription to the New York Times.

My "manager" was this older Jewish guy named Irving who was so proud of me, I sold 15 subscriptions in one day, but then it started to get crappy outside. I had to tell poor Irving that I had to leave the job.

Irving was so upset, he almost cried and begged me to not leave the job.

But in the end, I did leave that job. I did learn how to be loud and obnoxious and be funny.

My temping career so far

First of all, welcome to my new blog. This blog will be all about my temping career so far, as I have been the temp (contractor) for over 4 years.

This is nothing to say against being the temp. In fact, it's a good way to make money (especially these days) and a great way to have experience in your pocket.

It used to be that you could get a job by temping for a period of time. In fact, many companies do that, but only if the temp (temporary) is really good, or just can learn the job in a quick matter of time.

In fact, temping was the way for me to go, when I first got my real first job, it was through temping. I had a career at the Courthouse, and after 4 years, I just learned that it really wasn't for me, so I went back to the public sector.

But, now, four years later, I'm still just the temp.

There are a few things to know about being the temp.

1) You will do anything asked of you, and they expect that.
2) You will cover for any position, as long as you can do the job.
3) You will need to learn very quickly all new things, proceedures.

Oh yes, don't forget, that most agencies will test you on your knowledge. Even after all the many years of being the secretary, they don't care, they want to see how fast you can type, or if you know Excel, oh, and by the way, it's not the version you're used to, it's some weird test program, that if you know it, great, and if you're not so good at it, well...good luck.

That's it for now, I will post later on this week.

And by the way, remember, it's only temporary.