Agency work is employment that is being done through a third party, just to make this crystal clear! Agency work is you working for a company through a recruitment agency, some companies prefer not to take staff on permanently because of the amount of staff turnover they have, normally if you are recruited through an agency the end goal is to become permanent but there is no guarantee you will get it.
Agency work can be great if you are genuinely looking for work but unable to find anything permanent, a agency will help you look for it. Employment because they take out the whole process a company has to go through to recruit they provide all the necessary tools & employment checks that a company will have to conduct, generally speaking, you normally have the same rights as a permanent staff member but there are a few things which can be different which we will get into later on on the blog as of right now I’m only clearing stating on what agency work is.
Having currently been employed through an agency for the last 2 years I don’t think you will find a better-detailed experience unlike mine,
As before I started to work in my new employment through an agency I had permanent employment for 8 years so I know what this is all about.
Below I will go through all the fundamentals of being an agency worker. Don’t be fooled by the hysteria surrounding agency work as being slavery & you have no rights of annual leave or sick this is very far from the truth.
As someone who has had first-hand experience dealing with a good agency I can give an unbiased opinion,
I just want to make clear I’m not being paid or anything I state is a written fact it’s strictly my personal opinion & experience.
Working for an agency pros & cons
Pros
Agency work can be rewarding Aswell as unstable depending on what kind of employment you’re in. As for myself, I’m currently working within the energy sector so my job is secure, unfortunately, there have been stories of agency workers not being given work properly or their contracts being terminated after a few months of employment depending on the company you work for, for the current situation.
Getting Paid Weekly
The thing I enjoy about agency work most is the payment method. Most agencies pay their staff weekly, so if you are doing over time you won’t have to wait a whole month before you see your pay, I have personally noticed it’s been a lot easier for me to budget myself like this, dare I say it iv managed to save some money Aswell. Your payslips with agency work can be tiresome as you get paid weekly it’s more frequent so it’s difficult to keep track of everything that comes in.
A great point that I have to mention about agency work is that you are always encouraged to seek better opportunities if there is a better position with more pay your agency will definitely inform you of this current job opportunity & sometimes it’s a lot easier to get things resolved with agency staff then directly with the company, From my personal experience when I was in full-time employment
I found booking my annual leave or trying to resolve a pay issue took forever because my line manager would always say his busy & I would have to keep reminding him to resolve it.
The Flexibility
The flexibility agency work gives you is great, if you work you get paid if you don’t do well then you don’t see anything money-wise, of course, there are some huge setbacks with agency work Aswell,
Mainly is the job security, it’s great if you like me who is in employment in a sector which constantly needs good staff, unfortunately sometimes seasonal work can be very unpredictable you might be employed for 6 months then terminated after.
The only thing I can suggest for this before you take up the employment ask the agency is this full time, they would be happy to inform you.
Cons
Annual leave with the agency can be complicated
Yes, you get your days like a normal permanent staff member. The only difference is some agencies have a system where you have to work your hours to bank up hours for your annual leave.
Example:
I work 37hrs a week for every 2 weeks of work I bank 2.5hrs towards my annual leave.
So early it adds up to 20 days.
Which is the national average in the Uk excluding the bank holidays of course.
Some say it’s cruel I personally absolutely hate it, & Trust me I have voiced my opinion but unfortunately because the law has certain loopholes the companies will use it.
Sick Pay
Another sad part about agency work as it’s temporary employment sick pay can sometimes be regarded as being something you aren’t entitled to, The only sort of sick pay you can even take is a government scheme where I think you get about £67 a week,
Which let’s be honest won’t cover anything.
So above are key points in my experience that as a current agency worker I have to highlight to let you know of what works & what doesn’t.
Do you need some experience to work for an agency?
This is an important question because not everyone has been employed before, the simple answer is No,
Sometimes they might request experience because of the certain company you will be working for, In my situation, they did need some sort of customer service experience but sent necessary as you would be fully trained if you are chosen to be fake into full-time Employment.
Clean CRB Check
The only thing that matters is about having a clean CRB check, anyone who doesn’t know what a CRB cheek is, it’s a check to see if you have any past criminal convictions or do you have anything pending, As for experience that isn’t something which is that important as your working through an agency the job isn’t right for you they will actively help you look for a better position which is more suited to the kind of qualifications & Experience you have.
An agency will always prioritize your attitude & conduct before experience as they are a recruiter so they actively search for anyone that can provide them a great long-term commitment, remember agency get paid by the company for providing a worker so they are more eager to get you in employment then you are yourself.
That’s what makes this that much better
You are constantly being offered positions that will cater to your experience or your need, So don’t think just because you have no experience in the field you need to get employed it will be hard!
Before you knock it trust me talking from personal experience give it a try you might be surprised at how quick you’re at work.
Can agency workers become permanent staff members?
The simple answer once again is YES, but there is something you have to understand the company you will work for will have to see your work ethic before taking you on board,
The agency will never tell you to take the permanent position because they make money off you when you employed the company you will work for will have to take the incentive to provide permanent employment.
Generally speaking my situation I have been with the agency for about 2 years working full time without any major issues, I have a good repute with my managers at work who I have addressed & voiced my opinion about being taken on permanent.
Is it something that happens after 6 months NO!
It’s a long road because the company wants to guarantee you won’t abuse the system, the only way you can truly do this is by showcasing your willingness to do any work someone might turn their nose upon.
This is me speaking from my experience I would personally not bring up a perm want position conversation until about a year has gone by, that way the people you are working for & the kind of person you are will be visible to the managers you working under they are the ones who can get the ball rolling so patience is the key to becoming a permanent employer.
Of course, if you find a better position you are more welcome to dive straight in, but if it’s a job you enjoy & want to stick to then yes just be patient and prove you are dedicated and hard-working, all hard grafting does not go unnoticed trust me,
I have learned this the hard way. So my only objective in this whole blog is to be completely transparent & honest about working through an agency.
