Administrative assistants, lawyers, chief financial officers, and construction workers—all have found jobs in the staffing industry. America's staffing agencies have jobs in virtually all occupations, including ones you’ve probably never thought of, such as pilots, biotechnologists, teachers, videographers, and dentists.
Get Noticed by Companies That Are Hiring
Looking for work is not easy and can be a drain of time and energy. Staffing agencies help job seekers get noticed and land positions that match their qualifications at companies that are hiring. Agencies have access to positions that otherwise may have not been posted—and can get résumés in front of the right people.
Staffing agencies are partners to job seekers and are interested in the success of their individual temporary and contract employees.
Working for a staffing firm also allows you to experience a variety of industries, companies, and jobs—without a long-term commitment.
Look for an ASA Member
ASA members pledge to adhere to a code of ethics and best practices—most of which deal with employee relations. Moreover, because ASA promotes legal, ethical, and professional practices for the staffing industry, its members are kept abreast of the latest developments in labor and employment laws and human resource best practices. One of the principal missions of the association is to encourage high standards of ethical conduct in dealings with employees, clients, and competitors.
Learn about a career as a corporate employee of a staffing agency. Click here »
What to Expect as a Staffing Employee:
Types of Work
- Office–Clerical and Administrative: Secretaries, general office clerks, receptionists, administrative assistants, word processing and data entry operators, cashiers, etc.
- Industrial: Food handlers, cleaners, assemblers, drivers, tradesmen, machine operators, maintenance workers, etc.
- Engineering, Information Technology, and Scientific: Engineers, scientists, laboratory technicians, architects, draftsmen, technical writers and illustrators, and computer programmers and designers, etc.
- Health Care: Physicians, dentists, nurses, hygienists, medical technicians, therapists, home health aides, custodial care workers, etc.
- Professional–Managerial: Accountants, bookkeepers, attorneys, paralegals, middle and senior managers, advertising and marketing executives, etc.
Many staffing agencies specialize in one or several skill sectors. When you’re exploring agencies, plan to contact those that serve your occupational niche and request specific assignments for the kind of work that interests you most.
Assignments
Pay and Benefits
Like any job, staffing employee salaries depend on skills, location, and experience. A paralegal with two years of experience in St. Louis is unlikely to command as high a salary as someone with 10 years of experience in New York City. However, staffing firms offer competitive wages and benefits to attract the best talent—some staffing employees make more than their permanent counterparts.
Staffing agencies offer a wide variety of benefits. Be sure to ask about what benefits are offered when you interview with a staffing agency.
Other Expectations
Temporary and contract employees need to be punctual, reliable, and courteous—you’re meeting a lot of new people and making a lot of first impressions. You have to come into a work environment and hit the ground running. It can be challenging to get up-to-speed quickly on unfamiliar material, work styles, and office procedures, but you will learn a lot from these experiences.