If you’re looking for a new job right now, you’d be wise to start focusing on a part-time temp job. That’s the word from our friend Tory Johnson, the CEO of Women For Hire. She says about one-in-four of the new jobs created in recent months have been for temporary positions. That’s why she now recommends every job seeker pursue temp work - even if you’d prefer a full-time position. Why? Basically, more and more people view temp work as a “paid audition” for a full-time job, because it gives you a chance to get your foot in the door and “wow” an employer. Plus, today’s temp workers earn about 15% more per hour than people working full-time. Staffing firms are reporting a growing demand for temp workers in highly-skilled positions – like lawyers, accountants, business analysts and computer programmers. So, how can you improve your odds of landing a great temp job?

• Register with as many reputable temp agencies as you can. A good place to start is the American Staffing Association, at AmericanStaffing.net. That Website has a database where you can search for temp jobs by location or specialty.                           
• Next: Treat each staffing firm as seriously as you would a regular employer. In other words: Dress professionally, and be prepared to answer questions about why you’d be a perfect hire – just like you would in a regular job interview.
• Why’s that important? Because staffing firms don’t work for you! Instead, they work for the employers who pay their fees. So, if you come across as unprofessional, temp agencies won’t recommend you for a job.
• Another way to improve your odds of landing a temp job: Reach out to employers directly. Cold call companies and ask if they have any temporary positions open. Or, if you search for jobs online, use keywords like “temp,” and “part-time” to get listings for temp jobs.
  
  

Temp work gives you an easy way to gain new skills and build a well-rounded résumé. The more skills you have, the closer you’ll be to your full-time dream job.