When should you use a temp agency?
Michael Gray
Updated on February 28, 2026
Temp agencies can also be ideal for people who need specific work hours and may require a flexible schedule, night or weekend work or seasonal work. For example, a teacher might contact a temp agency for a summer job to help them earn some extra money when school’s not in session.
What are the benefits to working for a temp agency?
The Advantages of Temporary Work
- Improving Your Resume. A temporary position may offer the opportunity to learn new skills or gain needed experience in an area where you may be lacking.
- Speedier Hiring Process.
- A Path to Permanence.
- A New Direction.
- Flexibility Rules.
- Temping as a Career.
- Covering resume gaps.
- Financial Reward.
Is it worth going to a temp agency?
A temp agency can be both good or bad, depending on your staffing needs and the quality of the temp agency. They’re good for businesses looking to quickly hire people to fill general positions, but will likely be a poor fit if your worker needs are more specialized.
Are temp agencies good or bad?
Is temping bad for your career? Absolutely, not as it offers numerous advantages and the flexibility to still job search while you earn money in the process. Temping often holds over households while they transition from one full-time job to another.
Why do companies often hire temps?
Temporary help agencies can quickly provide your business with qualified staff. Some common reasons companies hire temps: Employee absences: illness, vacation, maternity or disability leave, sudden departure. Unexpected or temporary demands: special projects, seasonal or peak periods, employee shortages.
How long can you work as a temp for a company?
Referring back to the DOL’s definition of a temporary employee, a period of temporary employment should last no longer than one year and have a clearly specified end date. Federal law also dictates that you cannot hire the same temp employee for more than two consecutive years.
Do temp jobs look bad on resume?
While some advisors may recommend pursuing full-time jobs on your career path instead, there is a great opportunity to make use of temporary work experience. Temp jobs do not look bad on a resume if you can tell a great story about how you have benefited from this experience.
Is it bad to get a job through a temp agency?
Temp work has its pros; however, it may also pigeon hole you into only receiving temporary positions. Unfortunately, future employers may not see the value in diverse experiences. They may equate the previous experience with the ability to only being capable of working for a temp agency.
Are temps considered employees?
Temporary employees hired directly or through an agency are still employees. Manage them as you would any employee. Interns have certain limitations, both legal and practical. Contract workers are typically in business for themselves.
What are the disadvantages of hiring temporary employees?
Cons of Temporary Employees:
- Training Requirements. The more temporary employees you hire, the more new people you will have to train.
- Safety Issues.
- Lack of Teamwork.
- Legal Issues.
What are the benefits of working with a temp agency?
Of course, one of the benefits of placement through temp agencies, especially in regards to temps who want to maintain a flexible or part-time schedule, is that the worker has full control over their availability.
What to do when hiring a temporary staffing agency?
If an organization is recruiting through a temporary staffing agency, they should provide them with accurate information via a written record. It’s key that companies keep a note of all relevant communication generally, as well as timesheets to ensure all employees are keeping the correct hours to maintain compliance.
When to hire a temp instead of a full-time worker?
There are a number of reason why it’s wise to hire a temp instead of a full or part-time worker. Here are some of the pros: 1. Enables your business to adjust more easily and quickly to workload fluctuations Temporary help agencies can quickly provide your business with qualified staff. Some common reasons companies hire temps:
What are the main reasons companies hire temps?
Some common reasons companies hire temps: Employee absences: illness, vacation, maternity or disability leave, sudden departure Unexpected or temporary demands: special projects, seasonal or peak periods, employee shortages 2. Maintains staffing flexibility