Stars in a temporary role

By ALICE SHOPLAND

Temping is increasingly tempting for a significant proportion of the work force. Gone are the connotations of a temp as someone who didn't have the skills to get a permanent job; temping today is for dynamic workers at all levels and in all industries who want variety, flexibility and challenge.

Christine Bache, for example, left her administrative role at a real estate agency to go temping in March 2000.

Since then she's had placements ranging from several months down to single days, mostly in reception and accounting roles.

The longest break between jobs has been about two and a half weeks, but usually there's only a day or two, or no break at all.

Catherine Wills of Tempforce - Bache's agency - says temps used to be considered menial workers of little value: "now they're integral to the success of many businesses".

In fact, she says, some companies have more temps than permanent staff.

The agencies still get the 7 am phone calls for someone to fill in at reception that day because someone's called in sick.

But temps are also used to enable a company to take on a project it couldn't otherwise handle in-house, for example, and placements of up to 10 months aren't uncommon.

"When I started in this industry five years ago, a week was a long assignment, now the average is several months", says Wills. The changes are partly because of tougher employment legislation making permanent staff less attractive to employers.

The extra cost of involving an agency is off-set by the potential complications of permanent staffing and by the fact that temps generally do not receive bonuses, allowances or perks.

The current business climate also means companies need to react more quickly to changes.

"With temps, they can get experienced workers who need minimal training".

Pay rates are similar to those for an equivalent permanent position, Wills says, although high demand for certain skills naturally drives rates up.

While skills are obviously important, Wills says the right attitude is the key to a successful temp.

"They need to be flexible, very professional, loyal, quick on the uptake, and able to deal with conflict - often you're going into a stressed situation because someone's been rushed into hospital or a project's running close to deadline.

"It can be quite a lonely way of working because you don't have a permanent base. But we encourage our temps to think of our agency as home base.

"We know their kids' names and where they went for their last holiday".

Bache's current role is with an energy company, and she has been there since early June.

"The variety of temping appealed to me, and the flexibility. If I have the opportunity to go away for a week in the middle of the year, for example, I don't have to worry about annual leave.

"I just tell my agency I won't be available for placements at that time".

It's not for everyone, though. "If you want to know who you'll be looking at over the morning tea table every day, you probably shouldn't go temping!

"I know it would make some people feel insecure, but I really enjoy the variety and surprises. It suits me very well".

Although Bache has had regular work, she cautions that it wouldn't be a suitable workstyle for people "living week-to-week and getting stressed by not having work for a few days or even a few weeks".

Having a good temp agency is vital, Bache says.

"Try to get a personal recommendation from someone who's already temping, or talk to the different agencies and see who you feel comfortable with. You have to get on with your agent and trust them".

Martin Oetgen, national sales manager for Drake Overload, says the whole temp market is "very busy and buoyant in everything from nursing and industrial forklift drivers to receptionists, management consultants, planners and general managers".

He says executive contracting is one of the busiest areas, with chief executive types, productivity analysts and general managers working on month-by-month contracts.

"Many people are taking this option because they want to do a satisfying job but reduce their stress levels", he says. "Because it's shorter-term you don't get so involved in politics at work, so you're not taking that stress home - and if you do over-time, you get paid for it".

Temping Files:


Are you suited to temping life?

You need to be:-

* Open-minded

* Flexible

* Self-motivated

* A quick thinker

* Self-confident