Home Work & Study
If you need urgent support, call 999 or go to your nearest A&E. To contact our Crisis Messenger (open 24/7) text THEMIX to 85258.
Read the community guidelines before posting ✨

Temping work

Girl-From-MarsGirl-From-Mars Posts: 2,822 Boards Guru
At the moment I work part time at Asda, in the deli. Due to recent cutbacks, I'm working for 10 of my 15.5 hrs in a small room, preparing food by myself, with very little chance to see anyone, customers OR colleagues. I don't like it. Not what I applied there for. So it's time to move on.

As I don't attend college anymore, just do the work from home (shhhh), I was thinking about getting a job temping a couple of days a week. I have 3 A levels, and a typing speed of about 100 wpm, and I'm good with computers and a quick learner, blah blah. Anyone have any experience of temping in offices? How much I can expect to be paid? That kinda stuff. I only want to find employment for about 6 months, because I'm going to university in September. I don't *need* the money, but I'm thinking I will do when I get to uni.

So any advice you can give me would be much appreciated <IMG alt="image" SRC="smile.gif" border="0"> Oh, and I'm 19.

Comments

  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I'm not exactly going to be objective here..but after my A Levels I was in exactly the same position. For a start, most of the agencies only take on a certain number of students and then refuse to take any more on. I was with Pertemps, I had to do a computer and typing test and have an interview with them. They found me a job within 2 weeks, data entry for NPower. £4.50 an hour for entering meter readings all day. I lasted 3 weeks till I was caught looking through the paper for a new job and got sacked. Pertemps are shit, they always paid us late. There are very few interesting jobs with agencies, especially just with A Levels. It's very difficult, I know. If you can cope with working like a robot then pay can be ok. There are a lot of call centre positions available.

    Good luck.
  • Girl-From-MarsGirl-From-Mars Posts: 2,822 Boards Guru
    Ugh, call centres. That'd mean I'd have to like, talk on the phone all the time <IMG alt="image" SRC="tongue.gif" border="0"> (I don't like phones at the best of times). I'll make sure to avoid Pertemps <IMG alt="image" SRC="smile.gif" border="0"> I'm waiting for Asda to let us know when we'll be getting our Xmas bonus... if I can stand it then I'll try and wait for that. I've got 2 more days paid holiday at the end of Feb, but I don't see me lasting a month. My work at the moment is boring enough, making pizzas and cleaning the deli. I rarely get to do anything else, and if I do, that would be on a Saturday. I work with one or two others on Saturday, so it's not QUITE as unbearable.

    But my mind's made up. It would be better to work like a robot in an office than do my current job! There aren't any vacancies in other departments either... I was going to try George, or checkouts.. but the checkout manager is NOT someone I would willingly work for! It's not as if I'm on the breadline, so it won't matter if I can't find another job straightaway. I'm on £4.51 at the moment, and I could probably stand a penny's loss per hour for a bit of a better job <IMG alt="image" SRC="smile.gif" border="0">

    It's all more experience to put on my CV anyway. I've stayed at Asda for 9 months now, instead of 6 like I planned to because I changed my university plans.

    Thanks for the reply <IMG alt="image" SRC="smile.gif" border="0">
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I think your best bet would be to phone or visit a couple of agencies to find out what they've got on offer. I did a bit of temping last year when I left college at Easter and found Office Angels really friendly and willing to help. The woman asked what days I was willing to work and I got a job doing data entry in a call centre which was great cos I don't really like phones either! I worked Mon, Tues and Wed afternoons and wasn't pressurised into doing any overtime although I could do it if I wanted.
    I'm now back at Office Angels looking for permanent work and since I registered 3 weeks ago Ive had 4 interviews. I don't know if theres a branch near you or if they'll be as good but its worth a try anyway!
    Good Luck. Hope you find something soon!
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I do temping, and prefer it to a normal 9-5, the hours are to suit you and the pay is not to bad. If you go with a good agency, and dont mess them about, put up with them messing you about and do a good job, then you will always be in work and be able to take time off when you like, also you still get paid holiday from some agencies.
    you will be givern the crap jobs for the first few months, that is to be expected.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    im on my gap year doing a secretarial course. As part of the course I did work experience at the local council and subsequently got offered holiday work for them.
    My advice is go through someone like the council cause they have that investors in people thing and it looks good for them if they employ people in your position. They employed me through a governent funded employment agency called joblink, although i dont know if this was just exclusive to cornwall. Once you're registered on their books then they can pass your name around to whoever. i get £4.69 an hour, which is the standard rate and not bad for a student just working normal office hours for a week will get you good money.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    This thread is old, check the date before replying...
Sign In or Register to comment.