Vicki Smith, author of "The Good Temp"
For whom is it hardest to temp?
It's often been said that married women should get temporary jobs because they can then adjust their work schedule around their kids. And there is a lot of truth to that. But, in fact, we know it can be hard to go in and say, "I want a temporary job for these dates," because often it's the employers who are calling the shots on this.
Should people applying avoid giving these kinds of details?
It's a two-way street. Employers like it because if they don't want an employer any more they can let go of that worker—they don't even have to tell the individual to their face. They can just tell the agency and say, "Please do not send this worker back." That's the beauty of the plan for employers. Why do workers have to be brutally honest about their restrictions?
Is there any way to subvert the system?
You can withhold the information. You know that you can only make limited commitments, too. I'm not advocating it, but if I was having trouble getting a job because I was saying, "I can only work until October," I'd probably be inclined not to say that. If employers have no obligation to me as a temporary worker, why am I going to act as if I have to be totally honest and totally committed to them? I think people would end up deciding to withhold information if they thought that it was getting in the way of them getting a job.
Karen M. Fletcher of CA @ Sep 09, 2008 22:43:52 PM
Gia of CA @ Jul 21, 2008 21:11:46 PM
Tom Sedor of PA @ Jul 21, 2008 09:27:23 AM