While a full-time, permanent position is the ideal for most professionals in the workforce, temporary positions can be a great option for many people who find themselves looking for additional income and/or experience while pursuing that permanent job. Below, we have listed several situations where temporary work could be beneficial to your search for a permanent position. Although, our list is definitely not comprehensive; temporary work can be a great option for just about anyone.

• Recent Graduates: Temping is a great option for recent graduates who do not have a permanent position lined up upon graduation.

• Temp work can help give college graduates more real world, professional experience to add to their resume, especially if they did not complete any internships or work study programs while in school.
• Also, temping can help fill in the employment gap on your resume between graduation and starting your first permanent position. Potential employers will be impressed to see that you have been working and gaining experience while pursuing more full-time work.
• Temp work can help get your foot in the door with a company that you would not otherwise have access to. If the company you are temping for is pleased with your work, they could consider you for any full-time openings they have.

• Professionals In Between Employment: Temping is also a great option for more experienced professionals who find themselves in between permanent positions.

• As for recent graduates, temp work can help fill in employment gaps on your resume.  Even if the temp work you are doing isn’t exactly relevant to your career goals, at least you can show a potential employer that you have not been sitting idle while searching for a new position.
• Temporary work is also a great source of income for those in between jobs. While you probably won’t make as much as you were in your last permanent position, a little money is better than no money.
• Temp jobs can also help expose you to new industries or environments that you might not have had the opportunity to explore otherwise. You might find a new interest or change your career goals after having a great experience temping within a different industry.

• Not Quite Yet Retirees: Temp work is an excellent option for professionals who have decided to end their full-time careers, but aren’t quite ready to stop working altogether.

• A lot of experienced professionals who have decided to retire from their full-time jobs are still looking for part time work to bring in a little additional income or help fill their suddenly empty schedules.

Temp work is a great option for these not quite retired professionals, because they can do short term or daily assignments, without making a long-term commitment.

Phone interviews are becoming increasingly popular because they provide a great way for employers to narrow down their pool of applicants prior to in-person interviews. For that reason, it’s important for you to ace your phone interview if you want to move on to the face-to-face round. The Los Angeles Times published a great article on phone interviews in their latest Sunday issue, so we’ve summarized the important points below.

1. Avoid Distractions:
   • While on the phone with a potential employer, you should distance yourself from any distractions. This includes your computer, iPad, smartphone, or even your roommates.
2. Be Articulate:
   • Your voice is the only tool you have to express yourself on a phone interview, so make sure you speak articulately and clearly. You also want to avoid trailing off or rambling when answering the hiring manager’s questions. Pausing occasionally will help your interviewer to process what you are saying and digest the information fully.
3. Prepare Yourself:
   • A phone interview is a great time to ask any preliminary questions you might have about the job opportunity, so you should have a list prepared before the call. Also, keep the job description handy and look up some information on the company to make sure you are fully informed.
   • It also helps to brainstorm examples of your past experiences that you can talk about on the phone interview. For example, compile a list of examples where you took initiative, demonstrated your organizational skills, or worked as a team player.
4. Be Yourself:
   • It can be difficult to convey your personality over the phone in an interview, but don’t forget to be personable and friendly. While you want to maintain professionalism, you also want to be yourself.
   • Don’t come across as if you are reading a script when speaking to a hiring manager; you want to come across confident and friendly, not rehearsed. Smiling while you talk can help improve the sound of your voice and put more energy into what you’re saying.
5. Express Interest:
   • At the end of the phone screen, be sure to thank your interviewer for their time and consideration. If you are interested in moving forward with the interview process, don’t be afraid to say so! Hiring managers will be more inclined to move forward with applicants who are visibly interested in and excited about their open position.

If you have taken significant time away from work – whether by choice or by chance – re-entering the workforce can be a daunting challenge. Learn how to make your transition back into the working world a little easier by reading our advice below:

1. Try Temping:

• Temping is a great option for re-entry workers. Working temporary assignments is a great way to sharpen your skills and transition back into a work routine.
• Temp agencies commonly work with re-entry workers, so they won’t be as wary of the gaps in your resume as a hiring manager looking to fill a permanent opportunity would be.

2. Network:

• Re-entry workers typically have a lot more networking opportunities than a recent graduate or young professional.
• They have already spent several years working, so they have developed business contacts within their industry. These contacts are great networking tools and can be used to help them get their foot in the door with a great organization.

3. Freshen Up Your Resume:

• The rules of resume writing have probably changed since the last time you were looking for work, so make sure you update your resume accordingly.
• If necessary, speak with a job counselor or career center for assistance. Make sure your resume best presents your developed skills and experiences, and also adheres to modern resume rules.

4. Put Together a Portfolio:

• Before you even have a job interview, you should create a portfolio showcasing some major projects or presentations you completed earlier in your career.
• Providing a visual representation of what you have to offer a potential employer can help you show them the value you could bring to their company.

5. Update Your Knowledge:

• Re-entry workers should make sure that their technical skills and industry knowledge is up to date before applying for new positions.
• If necessary, seek technical classes in order to update your computer or software skills. Also, research your desired industry to make sure you are up to date with current events and changes.

6. Gather References:

• If possible, try to get recommendations and references from your former supervisors and coworkers.
• Submitting great references and letters of recommendation with your resume can help prove to potential employers that you are worth interviewing.

The majority of offices in Washington adhere to a business casual dress code, but many professionals have trouble discerning exactly what that means. We have provided some basic standards below to help you learn how to dress business casual without breaking the company dress code:

What is appropriate?

• Dress pants
• Blouses
• Skirts or dresses that reach the knee, paired with stockings in the winter
• Polo shirts
• Button down shirts
• Closed toe shoes
• Khakis or slacks
• Sweaters

What is not appropriate?

• Jeans
• Sneakers
• Hats of any kind
• Open toe shoes or sandals/flip flops
• T-shirts
• Shorts
• Cargo pants
• Athletic wear
• Sweatpants and sweatshirts
• Tank tops or sleeveless shirts
• Revealing clothing
• Tights/leggings

Many offices do have exceptions to these rules. For example, your company might adhere to a business casual dress code, but allow their employees to wear jeans on Fridays or sandals in the summer. You should definitely confirm these exceptions with HR before dressing inappropriately without knowing. Don’t assume that you’re allowed to wear jeans since you see someone else wearing them. Before starting a new position, you should ask your HR department what the appropriate dress code is, and if you work for a staffing agency, you should ask a recruiter about their dress code policies to make sure you are aware of any exceptions and rules. As a temporary employee, you should treat every assignment as an interview, since it could potentially turn into a permanent job. Dress for success and you will be sure to not only impress your employer, but also boost your own self confidence in the workplace!

Have you ever gone on a job interview where you feel like things went well, but then you don’t receive an offer? Instead, the hiring manager tells you, “You are a strong candidate, but unfortunately we chose someone who was a little more qualified for the position.” In this situation, you are probably dying to know who that other candidate was and what they had to offer that you didn’t. Below, we have created the “perfect candidate” – the person who walks into a job interview and wins over the hiring manager every time. Here is what the perfect candidate has to offer:

The perfect candidate:

• … is always dressed appropriately for an interview. They look polished and professional, and they wear a confident smile.

• … brings their resume with them to every interview. On their resume, they have few to zero gaps in their employment history and a clear progression of growth throughout their career.
• … is always on time and prepared for their interview.
• … seems eager, excited, and interested in the open position.
• … answers the interviewer’s questions with thoughtful, clear, and articulate responses. They do not say “um” or “uh” to fill in gaps in their thought process.
• … can clearly explain why they are interested in the open position and why they are qualified.
• … has received great references from their former supervisors supporting their claimed experience and qualifications.
• … is easily reachable for potential employers. They answer their phone, respond quickly to emails, and/or return missed calls promptly.

No matter what position you interview for, you should always aspire to be the fabled “perfect candidate.”  You will definitely have competition for every job you seek, so make sure you are presenting yourself as the best candidate out there!