What is Temp to Hire?

Posted April 10, 2014

If you’re looking for a job, you may have seen postings for “temp-to-hire” positions. What does that mean, and should you consider one?

In a temp-to-hire job, you work through a staffing agency, which places you in a temporary assignment with a company. If you do well in the assignment, the company has the option to hire you on as a permanent employee.

(There’s no guarantee, of course. The company may decide it really doesn’t need to fill the position full-time, or that it doesn’t really have the budget to do so.)

Temp to hire jobs are also called temp-to-perm, try before hire, or TTP. So what are some of the reasons to consider taking this type of position?

1) Networking. When you work for a staffing agency, you’ll meet new people at every company where you have an assignment.  You might make new friends, but more importantly, you’ll show people in your market what you can do. And if they like what you do, they may refer you for other jobs, or ask to have you back next time you’re needed.

2) Confidence. If you’ve been job hunting for a long time, you know it can wear you down.  You may be getting rejections; you may not be getting any answers at all. Taking a temp-to-hire job will remind you that you’re good at what you do and that you’re a valuable employee. Having a steady paycheck can help boost your mood, too.

3) Skill building. Working for a staffing agency gives you a great opportunity to build up your resume.  You might get a chance to work in a new area and acquire new marketable skills, a new technology or a new business method.

4) The competitive edge. Temp-to-hire is one of the best ways to get your foot in the door at a great company. If you do well in the job, odds are good that you’ll get hired to a permanent position.

5) A practical preview. Before you buy a new car, you test-drive it. This is how you can test-drive a company. You’ll get a first-hand look at certain characteristics of the company that you might not observe during an interview and be able to decide: Is this somewhere you really want to work? Is it going to be a good cultural fit for you? Take the temporary period to evaluate the company just as the company is evaluating you.

Temp-to-hire employment opportunities can be a great option. If you’re ready to give it a try, call Team Ambassador! If you are looking for temporary jobs in Georgia, contact our team today.