Being a Temp... Good idea or Bad idea?

Okay, So I'm currently working to rebrand my resume and image to get into finance. I'm currently employed by an exchange but not in a finance role.

Recently, I was approached by a friend who works for a staffing agency and he tossed out the idea of using a temp posistion to create a foundation.

Now, I'm not sure how the temp market compares to the intern market. Much less on whether or not the option will turn into a job. Which leaves me wondering on whether or not this would be something to pursue short term until I get into a Masters program (The plan is to start an Masters in finance this fall or next spring).

So, I guess the question is... Would attempting to temp for 3 to 4 months before my Masters be a good Idea or bad idea?

Would such a position even be considered relevant on a resume for landing internships and the such during my studies next year?

Is such a strategy typically considered to be a good use of time?

TL;DR:
Would attempting to temp for 3 to 4 months before my Masters be a good idea or bad idea when it comes to internships?
Explain your answer if you wish.

 

A) Can you clarify what you mean by "attempt to temp."? I thought these were things we simply did as opposed to attempted.

B) Can you specify what your temp role would be and what field you want to work in?

And for the love of all that is good, don't capitalize so many random words in your sentences. It makes things difficult to follow.

in it 2 win it
 

A.) When I say "Attempting," I'm referencing the time and research it would take to land a temp role in finance. You can attempt to temp and still not get any offers. It is the same thing as attempting to gain full time employment. You have to do your due diligence.

B.) The only roles that I've found to be consistently offered are roles in an associate of an associate position or as a front desk clerk. There have been a few that I've researched that are more along the lines of bond/equity evaluation. These few would be what I would strive for if this path is taken.

Porn and Video Games are the only thing in this world that are right... Every day I look forward to going home and punishing my dick and then punishing noobs.. they're the only things that keep me from offing myself. -TonyPerkis
 

If you need the money, take the job.

If not, pass over it. You do not have to necessary wait for a research position, but operations is a long way from research.

On a scale of 0-100, with 0 no research job and 100 having a research position, you are at zero, taking an OPs would be about a ~5? It's like wanting to play shortstop for the yankees, and thinking you lateral from ticket sales.

 
Best Response

Do not listen to these people. It is a four month temp job take it. The alternative is you are still searching which means you are unemployed. A job on a resume looks better than a gap. That said continue searching for a job while being a temp. By the time you find the next opportunity and go through the process of interviewing and then going through hr junk and background checks it could be 2 months. You'll practically be done with the temp job by then. Plus now you have an internal job board available to you for four months.

 

OP - did you try pushing for a FT offer? From your post, it seems like you were pretty blindsided when that happened - must be a reason why they did that because I would've thought your boss would've tried to keep you in the loop throughout.

For these positions, did they say they were on a 6 month basis? Try negotiating with them with something longer and pays relatively well, in this market, it's especially to find a good and decent gig, so it's always better to keep staying a float by whatever means necessary.

 

You can be happy you didn't do the three month rolling contract I was on from '08-'09. That was scary shit, but I turned it into a FT offer and I'm still here today. Just make sure that the company "can't" go on without you. Just pick up a skill that nobody wants to do and bust your balls.

CNBC sucks "This financial crisis is worse than a divorce. I've lost all my money, but the wife is still here." - Client after getting blown up
 

Temp work is much better than no work. And just because they didn't offer you a contract doesn't mean you didn't do a good job. Lots of times their budget just may not meet it.

I would definitely push to get a perm position.. it usually pays better and you have much more job security.

Start using your contacts (supervisors and such) from past temp jobs to try and land perm roles.

 

@Blastoise: This is a life lesson for you; The ex-wife will take your money, but she'll leave. Just losing your money, but still have your wife there= she'll be nagging on you and complain when she can't go on here third vacation of the year.

In a more mathematical term on how you should approach women; Add me, subtract her clothes, divide her legs and multiply.

CNBC sucks "This financial crisis is worse than a divorce. I've lost all my money, but the wife is still here." - Client after getting blown up
 

I am in the last three days of my OpsAnalyst gig in the gov... I had an interview on monday for a different agency... doing what? Project Lead sounds great right? Noooo its a 3-5 month contract... guh I can't wait till i get settled in somewhere and can slow down the worry and increase the job security lol

Get it!
 

Keep in mind, at my old firm we would hire temps to do work that more senior people on the team thought was cruel and unusual to make analysts do and accordingly would crush their morale. So we would hire temps since once their souls were crushed they could be replaced.

The trick would be to really kick some ass and try to get a permanent offer, which is obviously VERY hard to do since:

1- its pretty hard to shine when you're doing the most menial of menial tasks

2- there likely is no position for which they would hire you

Although I did mention once before that I really liked one of the temps we had working for us and I did all I could to get him/her a job.

Try a firm called Wall Street Services.

 

Yeah, banks are hiring temps like crazy to cut down their full-time head counts and costs. They are also contracting out a lot of work and off-shoring a lot of the back-office work to India. To join as a temp, the best agency is Addecco. They are used by most of the banks. It is very difficult to convert a temp position to a ful-time position. You can apply for the full-time positions internally and follow their normal hiring procedures. Once they know you are a hard worker, that will help you. The main drawback is that the bank has to pay Addecco 4 months of your full-time salary as commission (similar to headhunter) if they hire you full-time. However, once you get some BB experience, you may be able to transfer that to other banks easily where they do not have to pay any commission to Addecco.

 

I was considering moving firms earlier in the year and used Staffmark, their office is in midtown. Try Meredith, she was my contact [email protected].

Just as a suggestion use a creative subject line like 'you were recommended' that usually grabs people's eye.

"you can turn off the sun but I'm still gunna shine" - Jason Mraz
 

Get your resume and profiles fully updated and searchable on Linkedin, Indeed, Monster, and efinancialcareers. I gaurantee you will get some more nibbles from smaller recruiters, stay away from Robert Half and those other huge ones, they are usually garbage.

Frank Sinatra - "Alcohol may be man's worst enemy, but the bible says love your enemy."
 

I'm updated and searchable on Linkedin, Indeed, and efinancialcareers. Monster seems to be a waste of time, but if I'm being obtuse, feel free to tell me. I haven't had a drop of interest from a single recruiter. I did have one interview through efinancialcareers, but it wasn't even remotely a finance job (a manning the phone job at a small media company which does some private equity related publications) and wasn't through a recruiter.

I realize I'm not some genius who's going to get poached by the TMT Group at Goldman Sachs, but I really figured that a 3.3+ GPA, great extra-curriculars, and a solid (if not spectacular/impressive) internship could be good enough to at least land me some back office/ boutique interviews. The only thing I get emails for are straight up sales on comission jobs as a "financial consultant"/ "financial advisor" for Axa advisors, aflac, ING, etc, etc. Everyone else (including jobs posted as entry level) wants someone with experience.

 

I'm on the same boat as you... but you just gotta keep your head up. I've been trying to talk to as many people in the industry as much as possible to get some unanswered questions answered and also to see if there were any opportunities available.

 

I think you need to re-read this sentence "I'm willing to do anything thats related to finance." You might think that being flexible in your approach and casting a wide net is the safer route, but it may also show a lack of focus. This may sound counter-intuitive, but try to pigeonhole yourself. Hone in on goal - say you want to work on a muni desk - or whatever - and become a mini-expert on the topic. Spend time only on people who could help you land a muni debt analyst job. During interviews you can explain why muni desk is your goal, where you want to be in 5 years and you come off as more prepared because you will believe it. Don't come off as being open to any opportunity - of course you are - but that you are determined to do xxx.

 

I mean, I'm not stupid enough to say that in an interview. I'm just saying that for the purposes of this post; I'm not having trouble finding a job because I'm too closed off (FWIW, I wanted to work in either consulting, or do a valuation role somewhere and then work in VC----at this point, thats a fucking pipe dream), I'm open to just about anything that is skill building. Obviously when I speak to someone about an opportunity, my interest is in that opportunity. I think that goes without saying.

 

I know that feeling - was in your boat for some time. Where are you located and where are you willing to re-locate?

Currently: future neurologist, current psychotherapist Previously: investor relations (top consulting firm), M&A consulting (Big 4), M&A banking (MM)
 

I live in Jersey, a commute to midtown would take about an hour and 15 minutes by public transport. I'm literally willing to go anywhere. International is no problem; I'd work in bumblefuck Ohio too if the position gave me the chance to build a solid skillset. I'm as flexible as can be (likely out of sheer necessity of course...I'd love to move back to NY and it would be great to get my first job there, but really, I'm not in the position to be choosey about any of this shit).

 

First lesson. LinkedIn connections are worthless. They make money by ads and recruiters looking for fresh meat - not by how valuable your networking experience is. I did a test to prove how stupid virtual connections were and sent a connect link to 200 people - people I never met or had any connection to. 163 added me to their network. People who accepted me out of curiosity or because - hell, what is the downside? You generation needs to lose the idea that your virtual pals are real people.

The company makes money because we live in the era of self-promotion. And for you, that should be an avenue to publish content and show people you have ideas.

Have you sent a hand-addresses letter to anyone? Have you published an opinion or research on the thousands of websites that would except them?

 

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