Over its history, the temporary employment industry has evolved from using gopher-type seat-warmers to fill-in for vacationing administrative assistants, to placing highly skilled, valued, and courted contractors into managerial positions. Although job descriptions and qualifications have changed, temps are still considered part of the fringe labor market, since the temporary work force is just that: Temporary.Since 1990, the temporary work industry has grown five times more than national employment. In 2004 alone, the country has seen an increase of 230,000 jobs since this time last year, acc... view article details

Go for Broke Without Being Broke Currently, there are around 23 million people either out of work or underemployed, and the number of people out of work for more than six months has doubled in the past three years. Understandably, the pressure to get a job can make it easy to develop a find-work-at-all-costs mentality.However, this approach isn't necessary and can even be hazardous to your job search. To launch an effective job search and avoid going into unnecessary debt, consider these money-saving tips.6. Apply for Unemployment It may be obvious, but applying for unemploym... view article details

Q. I am a temporary employee for a large firm. Before I interviewed for the job, the agency representative asked me what salary I wanted. The hourly wage I quoted was too low and does not reflect my years of experience. Later I was told that neither the agency nor the employer was able to find anyone to perform this job (the person I replaced is on a job-related disability leave). This is a professional position. The basic salary is below the Salary Wizard median. In addition, several other people at this department will be taking extended absences. What is the appropriate avenue for requestin... view article details

You've picked an agency - now you have to apply for a spot on the team. It's not as easy as just walking in unemployed and being handed a job (or, placement in temp jargon). The people at the agency have to decide whether they want you to represent their company.Make an appointment at the agency and prepare yourself accordingly. 'Be professional and dress as if it's a 'real' interview,' said Jacqueline Johnson, who has more than 10 years of experience temping in Washington, DC, Boston, Mass., Nashville, Tenn., and Northridge, Calif.Bring a resume with a detailed work history and contact inform... view article details

So you don't like sales? Well, you'd better start.Grant Cardone, the author of 'Sell or Be Sold: How to Get Your Way in Business and Life,' is this week's guest on Salary Talk and he sells sales -- and with good reason. Even those who don't think they are salesmen in their current jobs actually do sell, says Cardone. Every time you ask for a raise, go for a promotion or pitch a new idea to your boss, you're selling yourself. Sales is nothing more than getting someone to see your side, and that's an essential component of career success.Cardone, who is also a TV and radio host, has some great e... view article details

You've decided to give temping a try and have found an agency that appears to serve your needs. You've applied for a spot on their fleet of workers and they've agreed to take you on. So now what?While the agency searches to find you that plum assignment, they might be able to offer you a 'temporary' temporary position. Most temp agencies have a surplus of drudgework so if they ask you to do some mindless number-crunching and you are looking for a more challenging assignment, feel free to say no. However, holding out indefinitely for the perfect placement isn't a good idea either, advises Jacqu... view article details

If you're looking for the perfect job offer, you might as well stop right now; there's no such thing. But armed with the right information, you can get a good deal in a good place. Negotiating the job you want begins after you’ve learned how to be your own agent - after you’ve answered the tough personal questions and researched the company thoroughly.Listen and Answer First. Ask Questions LaterLike the salary negotiation that follows it, the interview is a two-way process. The interviewer is gathering as much information about you as you are about the company. And a good interviewer will allo... view article details

Volunteering Has Many Benefits Millennials love to volunteer. Why? In short, it makes them happy. But surprisingly, college students and young professionals also lead the pack in volunteerism as a means of developing themselves professionally.In fact, an employer’s involvement in causes was cited in the 2014 Millennial Impact Report as the third most important factor when determining whether to apply for a job. And a Deloitte study found that Millennials who frequently participated in workplace volunteer activities were more likely to be proud, loyal, and satisfied employees.Millennia... view article details

Pay Yourself Right When Being Your Own Boss The dream of working independently is a reality for almost 10 million people in the United States, or roughly 10 percent of the workforce, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The rewards of self-employment include independence from supervision, the ability to set your own hours, and the satisfaction of knowing you are writing your own ticket. And yes, if you want, you can often work in your bathrobe. Technology makes it easy to work wherever you go. With an up-front investment of a few thousand dollars in a computer, bandwidth (telephone,... view article details

The rise of technology has led to growing concern over surveillance in the workplace. Monitoring employee productivity is not a new trend, but tech has given new breath to Orwellian skepticism about who is watching and listening – and to what extent. In many cases, surveillance policies are addressed in the onboarding process, but it’s important to be aware of the basic legalities and modern trends involved. Workplace Privacy: Legal Basics In the U.S., The Federal Privacy Act and Electronic Communication Privacy Act each address privacy rights at large, but there are no federal laws which expl... view article details