I started out temping by using a number of different firms... I wanted a lot of different experiences and variety. I used it to shop for a permanent position, a place I could call home. But after temping for over three years, I find I really like being a consultant and I intend to temp forever.
For me, consulting work provides (1) a monetary advantage, (2) respect as an expert, (3) a variety of work, and (4) freedom from office politics.
The only disadvantages are covering my own health benefits, and there are no other traditional company perks-you have to handle all of this yourself Evaluate yourself carefully. You need very strong skills in an area of concentration. Usually you are brought in for ''hot” situations, a huge project, or for your special expertise and! or ability to train other employees. You’ll need good communication skills and a calm personality to handle any stress you may pick up from those around you, ... If your area of expertise dries up, it is an economic problem, and you may be out on the street; so keep aware of what is happening within your field. I believe the very best consultants are never without work. A firm will even invent work to hold on to someone whose skills they value or have a need for somewhere down the line.
Anna Marie DeLeyer, St. James, New York
Anna Marie DeLeyer is a career temp. She earns her living through temping. Five days a week and on occasional Saturdays, DeLeyer spends her day caring for elderly shut-ins. She has been at one assignment for over three years. From 9 A.M. to 1 P.M., Monday through Friday, De Leyer goes to the home of a 96-year-old woman and helps her daughter care for the woman. "It gives the patients family an opportunity for some personal time," says DeLeyer.
DeLeyer is a personal care nurse's aide, and she enjoys her work. "I get real satisfaction... People appreciate what you do for them." DeLeyer's case load has included many elderly people (70 years and more) with various problems, ranging from retardation to recovery after a hospital stay, as well as taking care of a young girl with cerebral palsy.
"This type of work can be emotionally draining, especially if the person is a screamer or complains a lot." DeLeyer, now 25, is an even-tempered, happy person whose first love is horses. Five years ago, DeLeyer, who went to college for two years and studied art and nursing, discovered temping by accident. She joined a service, and along with a group of women primarily in their early twenties through late thirties, took an eight-week, six-hour-a-day training course offered by the service. "We were taught by a registered nurse. Course work covered various medical conditions and terms, patient care, an overview of household chores, and the operation of equipment such as hospital beds and wheelchairs." DeLeyer continues to take in-service training from her service, which is offered to temps at no charge; in fact, they are paid for attending sessions.
A nurse from the service visits DeLeyer at her assignment on a monthly basis to check her performance and to issue periodic take-home tests. Some days DeLeyer also works afternoon assignments, and will take on a Saturday assignment, on occasion, if her service needs her. Most temps in this field work on long-term assignments and receive from $5.00 to $6.50 an hour, depending on the assignment and the temps education and training.
A typical day for DeLeyer includes getting her patient up, bathed, dressed, and fed. She also performs such chores as shopping for groceries, vacuuming, and doing the dishes. "If you are comfortable with the patient and they are comfortable with you, they ask to keep you there." To prove the seriousness of this statement, the granddaughter of De-Leyers 96-year-old patient told us, "Anna Marie is like family now... We would be lost without her."
Susan Press, New York, New York
Susan Press is a singer and an actress. She graduated from college in 1984 and temped until 1986, when she left temping to go on a national tour. "A lot of actresses do waitressing, which I didn't do well. I turned to temp work as a receptionist, which was great."
Press spoke highly of her service and praised the counselors she worked with.
They opened doors for me and told me they can always get me work. They tried to place me. On assignments that were convenient to where I lived and at places from which my performing career could benefit, such as advertising agencies, so I could always leave my photograph and resume behind. I also always requested one-, two-, and three-day assignments because a long-term commitment can be a problem for an actress-I want to be free to go on auditions whenever I need to.
I feel that my temp counselor always worked hard for me. If you are considering temporary work, you must understand the obligations you have to your service. You must keep your commitments when you agree to work. Give 100 percent to your job... you have to give in order to get. If you give to the counselor by honoring your commitments, you will always get called to work.
