You’re straight out of university. You’re not sure what you want to do, but you’re sure you need to earn some money. So you end up temping. And that’s no bad thing, as long as you get career-minded.
You aren’t the first person to leave university bustling with enthusiasm only to find yourself temping within a few months, and you certainly won’t be the last. We could get all political and talk about sky-rocketing student debts and increasing competition for graduate jobs. But what it really all comes down to is the need for some pocket-money to fund your busy social life and anything – absolutely anything – to tear you away from Loose Women on ITV at midday. There’s nothing wrong with temping, but if you want it to be anything more than just a quick earner you have to be smart about where and how you temp.
FreshMinds Talent helps hundreds of graduates every year make the most of their experiences on their CVs. We even have a dedicated Interim team that specialises in helping graduates find meaningful temporary placements. So when it comes to temping, we know the dos and don’ts that will get you started on your career rather than working as a part-time receptionist at a donut factory (true story).
1. Where you temp matters
Always head for as big a name as possible. Filing for JP Morgan or making the coffee at Deloitte is always going to sound more impressive than a random company in the middle of nowhere. Future employers like to see those big names on your CV, even if you are just doing menial admin work. After all, if a multinational is willing to put their faith in you for any task you must demonstrate some of the commercial qualities that bosses are after.
If you’ve been after work for a while and know what the job of your dreams looks like, do your best to work within a relevant sector. OK, so it might be filing dusty old files in the public sector, but it will still help you understand how the public sector works, teach you some of the jargon and better equip you for future job interviews in this area.
If you’re interested in the City, there are lots of City-specific agencies who can hook you up with temporary work for good money. It will also give you a taste of the buzz of the Square Mile without the pressure!
Which is all very well if you are just a short stroll away from Canary Wharf. If you live in Cumbria, however, commuting to London every day probably won’t wash. So if you’re living in a town with no big name employers nearby, look for anything in a similar sector.
A small accountancy practice will look better than nothing on your CV if you’re thinking about applying to the Big Four. In fact, it demonstrates commitment to the cause!
2. How you temp matters
Be bright, sparky and switched on. We know it can be disheartening to make endless cups of tea, but the more proactive you are, the more extra responsibility will come your way. Remember, it may be just a temping job for now, but you’d be amazed how many people get permanent roles by impressing during part-time stints at a company.
Do your research, find out who you should be talking to (HR and business partners) and build relationships with the key gate-keepers who might be able to open these kind of opportunities to you.
If you aren’t going to be sticking around, make sure the experience is worth your while. Maybe this company isn’t for you longer-term, but there are a whole host of skills you could develop to make you more employable in the future.
Ask for opportunities to shadow people on your team, get involved with projects and pick the brains of your colleagues. Information is valuable. The more you gather, the more you’re equipped to excel, whether it’s in this job or somewhere else.
At the end of your temporary placement, you should have chatted to the guys in HR, sussed out if there are any internal vacancies and earned yourself a decent reference. Otherwise you may as well have worked at Starbucks or submitted to the dulcet tones of daytime television.
3. How long you temp matters
So temping is great then? Well, yes, though like everything else, only in moderation. Beware of temping for years on end. Employers will be nervous about you. It doesn’t demonstrate the drive and enthusiasm many will be looking for. You need to show that you made good use of your time spent temping and that you are keen to move on to bigger and better things.
If you are still having trouble securing those full-time positions, there’s an entire arsenal of other options open to you to give you that edge. You could do an unpaid internship to gain exposure to some more high-level work or get your foot in the door with your dream employer.
You could shadow people working in an industry that is notoriously difficult to break in to, like marketing, PR or advertising. You could even play the superhero, temping by day and by night enrolling onto a Maths A-level or Excel course (a necessity for many roles in banking and strategy). Just don’t get complacent – there are always new opportunities to explore and original ways of bolstering your CV.
By Demelza Bowyer Demelza is a graduate recruitment consultant with FreshMinds Talent,
helping high-flying graduates to find the perfect first job.
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