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There are many benefits of being a temporary worker, particularly in the current economic climate. Our recruitment consultant Maria works on the temporary side at Ascendant, here are some of her thoughts on life as a temp:

Once again we have some good news to report for Milton Keynes!

I read an interesting article on the BBC this week which suggested the economic gap between UK cities is ‘widening’. Whilst the headline made for miserable reading, the article itself featured some very good news for Milton Keynes.

According to research Group, Centre for Cities, the gap between cities is widening as the struggle to create private sector jobs plays out differently across the UK. The figures show however that Milton Keynes, along with Aberdeen, are “well placed to drive the national economic recovery, as they had seen a large number of business start ups and were highly innovative, with significant numbers of patents registered.”

Not only is this fantastic news for the Milton Keynes business-sphere, but also for Milton Keynes job hunters. With more business opportunities cropping up in the area we are likely to see an influx in local job vacancies.

It’s not just permanent job seekers who look set to gain either, those looking for temporary administrative work should be very pleased with this news. As business start-ups open their doors locally, it is likely they will need experienced, temporary admin staff to get them up and running.

Whilst this is all good news for people looking to work in Milton Keynes, it doesn’t mean that it will be easier to get a job and candidates should not become complacent in light of this news. Although there are likely to be more job opportunities with this increase in businesses, as unemployment levels climb, people are spreading their reach further across the UK in their job hunt.

For those temporary job hunters who already have experience in temping locally, you’re background is likely to set you apart from other applications. But for the rest of the candidates applying for administrative roles, you will need to make sure you stand out in the recruitment process to be in for a chance. Our earlier blog, How to Ace you Interview,  gives an idea of how to make an impression, but here are some more useful tips:

•  Keep your CV short and sweet  – recruiters and employers on the hunt for new staff will trawl through hundreds of CVs so make sure yours includes the vital facts and is easy to read
• Tailor your CV – different organisations and different roles will ultimately require different skills. Make sure you tailor yours to the role you’re applying for
• Be professional – the way you present yourself to a potential employer plays a major role when it comes to a job offer. If you turn up to an interview looking unkempt or answer your phone to the interviewer in an unprofessional way you could damage you chances of being offered the job
• Show added value – show them what more you can bring to the organisation above and beyond the job specification they have outlined.

Has this BBC news story motivated you in your local job hunt or to start your search for a great new person? Why not give the team a call to see how we can help you on 01908 200270

One of the legacies of past recessions has been a new and more ruthless approach to staffing. Out went the old ideas of large departments and corporate hierarchies and in came flat management structures and, most importantly for employment prospects, the notion of small permanent teams supplemented by temporaries or contract workers. Although the recession is arguably ( and hopefully) behind us, the business philosophy of low overheads, that it generated, still continues. Too many companies had their fingers burnt in the ‘boom’ years to fall into the trap of over-optimism again. Consequently more and more people are finding themselves working on a temporary or short-term contract basis.  So with the employment market increasingly moving away from the concept of long-term security, how do we make the most of these new ways of working?

My own view is that there is good news behind the growth of temporary employment. For example, while temporaries and contract workers are still often used to ‘hold the fort’ in cases of sickness or maternity, a significant number are now employed on the sort of projects associated with an increase of business confidence, such as new product development, systems implementation, mergers and acquisitions and the like. Secondly, our experience suggests that many temporaries are not simply passing through but are taking part in ‘working interviews’ where the employer is recruiting for a permanent position and both parties get an opportunity to assess each other before committing to a long-term contract. Working interviews are becoming increasingly popular across a range of industries and have been welcomed as a way of introducing flexibility into the labour market. While a potential employer may lay down very precise requirements in a job specification in terms of experience or qualifications, they are often less rigid about the background of a contract worker, who then has the opportunity to prove their worth from the inside of the organisation.

Temping can also provide the chance to build up a much wider range of experience than would be possible in any one company or succession of permanent jobs. Moving from employer to employer can offer exposure to a wide range of different sectors and a variety of different management styles and business practices.

For some on short-term contracts the most appealing aspect of this way of working in the stressed-out 21^st century,  is the freedom it can bring. Although every employer will expect their money’s worth and few would regard temping as an easy option, it can offer a degree of flexibility unknown to the permanent employee. With good organisation and a little luck, contractors and temporaries can find family commitments easier to deal with, study for further qualifications and even contemplate the sort of long-distance travel that standard holiday entitlements makes impossible.

The temping option is by no means perfect for everyone, but is certainly no longer the poor relation of the permanent job and, properly handled, can play an important role in the development of a twenty first century career.

What do you think? Do you use temporaries or do you temp yourself?-  I’d be really interested in your views.