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Today, many businesses that have high-traffic seasons or cyclical work schedules are looking to temp agencies to outsource short-term jobs and projects to knowledgeable individuals looking for work. Temp agencies, short for temporary work agencies, provide businesses with workers on a case-by-case basis to perform the necessary tasks at the business's most crucial times. They also provide a cost efficient way for companies to conduct business without having to hire a full-time staff. Due to the nature of their work, most temp agencies hire workers in the fields of health care, accounting, technical jobs, or secretarial positions. Although, there are some agencies that hire substitute teachers and day laborers for short-term work.

Joining a temp agency can have many benefits and allow for flexibility and diversity in work. Many people in the entertainment business work as temps because it allows them to make time for auditions or other jobs. Writers and artists are also good candidates for temp positions because the extra work gives them financial support, allowing them more time to work on their projects. Young professionals are also likely candidates to be temps, especially if they are unsure of what field they would like to join, because of the great networking they are exposed to while working for various companies. Of course, working for a temp agency is not for everyone. Individuals should be flexible and willing to work in a variety of different jobs. Many temps can be fired or laid off without notice if they complete their job ahead of schedule, making their financial situations difficult to manage. Also, many temps are only hired in certain seasons, making the market competitive and scarce.

The job of a temp agency can be difficult because of its role as mediator between employees and employers. Sometimes it is difficult for agencies to find enough individuals who are qualified and willing to work in such an unstable environment. However, temp agencies are generally easy to find and require little effort to join. Most agencies only require applicants to take a set of tests that evaluate the individuals' competence levels, usually in the secretarial and clerical fields. After completing these tests, the individuals' scores are stored in the agencies' databases so they can refer to them any time they need. After temps are placed in an agency's database, they will be contacted when a job comes up for which they are qualified. The temps receive a detailed report that includes the company's name, a job description, the supervisor's name, what to wear, the hours, pay, etc. The individuals can then choose to accept or decline the job offer, in which case they will either report to work or go back into the database and wait for another offer.

Since temps are bound to the rules set before them by their agency, not the company they are hired by, there is a certain separation felt between companies and the temps they hire. For example, temps have the right to refuse to complete certain tasks if they are not specifically spelled out in their job description because to the rights legally given to them through Occupational Healthy and Safety laws. Due to these circumstances, there is an even larger demand for legitimate agencies to exist that are willing to work in tandem with businesses to establish jobs to fit to each company's standards. Two organizations that help provide qualified workers and promote proper ethical practices are the American Staffing Association (ASA) and the Independent Staffing Alliance (ISA). Both of these organizations were founded in order to provide better and more legitimate temp agencies for businesses across the U.S. The ASA and ISA each have thousands of members they sponsor to help better the staffing industry and supply quality workers to those in need.

Although there are both benefits and downfalls in all temp agencies, the business continuously improving. With the help of organizations like ASA and ISA to establish clear rights for both businesses and employees, temp agencies are becoming more stable structures that run more smoothly and provide better work for individuals in need.