Talk to me about becoming a temp

[londonagent]

I've had enough of my job & handing in my notice on Monday The stress and long hours make me awful to live with and I don't earn enough to put up with the shit I get! I know I definitely want out of my industry but unsure where to go next so decided to just temp for a couple of months so I've at least got some money coming in.
I've started looking online and registered with a couple of agencies (both very upbeat about the amount of work out there as long as I'm prepared to be flexible), but as I'm on a month's notice they told me chances are I won't know until nearer the time what's out there. I've never actually temped before so wondered if there's anything I need to know, jobs I should avoid, am I likely to have enough work to keep me going financially etc. I'm also looking at seasonal work mainly in retail but it's nearly all NMW which is a bit short of what I need to pay the bills if it's gong to end up more than just a few weeks.
Am I mad to go from a secure permanent role to temping in the current climate?

I would look for a permanent role before handing in notice at your current job. I know a few people who worked temping and this will not offer you a regular income. Good luck

I used to temp and really liked it. However it was pre responsibilities, I couldn't easily do it now.

You can probably claim some help to cover bills if your temp work doesn't bring in enough (unless you have a partner earning enough, I imagine).

There is likely to be plenty of retail work in the next few months due to Xmas.

It is many years since I tempted. So things might have changed. I really enjoyed it for the refreshing change of just turn up, do the tasks, leave and switch off. It should be a nice 'recovery' for you after the stressful job you're leaving, and while job hunting.

Temp assignments (in my day!) tended to be pretty immediate ("turn up on monday") so I can see that they won't book you in anywhere a month ahead. Can be a variety of lengths - 2 weeks, 1 day, 1 month, a few weeks, a few months. Depending on the reason (covering sickness absence, covering maternity, between recruitments, sudden expansion, quick way of filling a role)

I had some really good times getting to know a team/ workplace quickly and good insights into how some different sectors work (interesting if you're considering a career change). Sometimes boring. But mainly not!

Always loved our temps at work! So refreshing and happy to muck in.
Just don't try and tidy the office or are arrange anything - that was a work war I wouldn't want to deal with again

If you need any level of security I really wouldn't do this. Of course the agents are telling you there's loads out there, that's what they do. Temping used to be great for secs / pa / admin roles but must forms have stripped that support right back.

Hey, 3 weeks ago I just done what you are thinking about. It was a last resort but I was deeply unhappy. I have temp job to Feb now in a place that's a million times better in an I distributed I'd love to work in. In my area there are lots of long term temp jobs. I am still searching for a full time role but right now I'm learning new skills and it's just such a breath of frej air while earning money. There are lots of temp jobs that open doors or ho permanent and thsts what I'm hoping for as so.e jobs you'll get an opportunity you wouldn't otherwise get applying

Apologies for the typos. Forgot to say I secured my temp contract via an agency then left my job

Contact your local authority (unless you already work in it!). Mine has its own agency. Plenty of them do.

i temped for nhs for years, perfect solution.

I did it years ago and loved it. I worked all over the place in many different roles. From cleaner, cinema worker, warehouse operative and bar work to receptionist, admin, customer service. I never said no to an assignment unless I was already working in a different role, or the new role was a better option and signed up with several agencies to keep my options open. My favourite agency got me Office work and I mostly got the manual work from my back up option.

I earned good money and met lots of people and it was a really positive experience.

However like I said it was about 10-15 years ago, I really have no idea what it's like now.

As someone who’s been contracting I would recommend you secure a permanent job or temporary contract before resigning.

Although the job market has picked up recently there is no guarantee you will find something quickly, weeks can turn into months despite what recruitment agencies tell you.

I have been where you are, where it was really stressful, long hours, the team was unpleasant and I was doing the work of 2 people (covering a maternity leave which was not disclosed to me at the interview stages even though I asked if it was a maternity cover). It took me 3 months before finding something else. In hindsight I wish I’d found something before leaving. Good luck and hope you find something soon.