And yet another contract!

Temporary workers ususally need to have strong nerves and a stronger than average ability to adapt to new environments and situations in order to deal with the fear of the unknown and emptiness associated with the beginning and ending of every mandate.

Fortunately for me, the job market has a lot to offer in the moment.

Since the completion of my last mandate as an executive assistant in March, I immediately started on a new project as a department secretary in April finishing today. Tomorrow, I'm starting in a new division of the same company and for a minimum of one month duration with a possibility of becoming permanent. Moreover, this time I had the choice between this mandate and another one similar but at a lower rate (wage).

We can't really say I was unemployed for a long time… and since I started accepting short mandates, I haven't been out of a job for a single day!

My secret? I use the help of a temporary personnel agency.

Obviously, as with anything else, different agencies offer different levels of customer service, quality and specialize in different types of jobs or to a specific industry.

Here is a non exhaustive list of a few personnel agencies recognized for administrative work in the Montreal area:

• Groupe Télé-Ressources
• Madeleine Martel
• Adecco
• Randstad

Working with an agency

1. Identification of our goals: the first step into achieving any project is always to identify our objectives.
• Desired type of work?
• Minimum and maximum duration desired?
• Maximum acceptable distance (transportation)
• Salary expectations?
2. Resume creation or update
3. Registering with an agency
• Calling the agency : call an agency and ask to speak to a consultant for temporary administrative work. Ask him/her how to submit your resume and insist for meeting with him/her for an interview.
• The tests:normally, when you show up for the interview, you will be asked to complete a number of tests depending on the type of work for which you seem qualified. The most popular ones are: French and English grammar, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, typing speed and data entry (keypunch and alphanumerical). The most versatile you are, the longer you will be there! A 30 minutes period is allocated to every test. The results will help determine your strengths and weaknesses in order to place you in positions you can shine in!
• The interview: a 30 minutes interview will allow the consultant to better understand your work experience, your goals and expectations. The ideal candidate will be dressed in a corporate/classic fashion, will have a clean speech and a confident attitude. Be prepared to explain every rupture in the dates on your resume as well as the reason for the termination of every past employment.
• The follow-up: after the interview, it is important to maintain a good contact with the person who met with you, so she does not forget who you are. It is usually recommended to call in once a week to see if she got new mandates that would fit your profile. Ask which day of the week is the best to phone for your follow-ups.