"Just smile and wave" - Penguins of Madagascar

Sometimes as the temp, you are asked to do things that you don't really want to do, or that you weren't hired for.

Sometimes the employee or other contractor that is related to some other employee asks you to do something that you already did.

I find it just much easier to just do it and keep your mouth shut. Just like the penguins of Madagascar say "Just smile and wave boys, just smile and wave."

This is to say, that while you are thinking in your head "Gee, didn't I already do this?" or "Why are you doing it this way?", your job as the temp is to not ask questions, but to just go ahead and do what they ask you to do.

This is part of being the temp.

You can be a great temp by just smiling and then going home at the end of the day and then complain later.

I also find that if you can be flexible, you will be more adaptable at what you do, and then can add it to your resume later.

So, just remember what the Penguins of Madagascar say, and just remember that you are more than just the temp.

A lead for IT people

If you are in IT (any field according to this company), and looking for work as a contractor, then you should get in contact with The Revolution Group in Wakefield (http://www.therevgroup.com/) and tell them I sent you.

Good luck and just remember you are more than just the temp.

*Edited to say, that this company had a little fun with me, so just an fyi...hopefully they are more serious about getting people jobs, especially in this economy.

In case you were wondering...

Guess what I just figured out, that I thought I would share with you. (The ones who are actually reading this blog that is).

When you are looking for a new steady job while you are temping, even though you have been working at the particular company for months, even years, you may NOT list your "supervisor" that you work for at that company as a reference.

This is because legally you don't work for the company where you have been contracted for! You are still legally employed by the agency!

Oh yes, and another thing. I'm getting really tired of all these other agencies telling me that they have a great position available and would I be willing to come in for an interview. Do they think that I am that naive? Hello? Have you seen the job market out there? It isn't pretty. Yet, there are still jobs, and the ones that are out there, are hard to find. They go with the best candidate.

The recruiters from agencies don't care. You are just a number to them. Don't let them just sly you. Do your homework first!

Just don't tell them the temp told you so.

Thanks.

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.