The Red Guide to Temp Agencies

Review of Leafstone

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,

Total time with agency:

Wait for first assignment:

Average wait between assignments:

Last five jobs:

Job Title	Length	Client	Hourly Wage	Typical of agency?

Tests given:
typing, word for windows, dummy

Payroll policies:
On-site time sheet pickup:
Direct deposit of payroll checks:
Free check cashing at agency's bank:

Benefits:
Medical insurance:
Dental insurance:
Paid vacation:
Transportation allowance:
Entertainment allowance:
Matching contributions:

Comments:
Started working: 3/95

Stopped working: 2/96

Types of Jobs: admin asst, exec asst, recept

Was this Typical: Yes.

Clients: banks, a little non-profit, misc org. (example auction house), financial

Salary: $10/$7.50-$17

Benefits: opportunity for health and vacation if you work relatively steadily, actually the health benefits are stipends towards monthly payments

Comments: The downtown branch of leafstone was very friendly and personable. For the most part I enjoyed my assignments and was paid enough so that I could take a month or so off during assignments and look for real jobs and pursue career paths, which is why i was temping in the first place. At the same time it's a business and there were times when I needed the work and they weren't able to come through.

But there were times when they offered me work and I was picky and in the temp business that can very quickly lead to getting left in the dust. If I was really interested in keeping my bank account steady I would stay with Leafstone, because they are basically good people, but sign up with another agency when times are tight, to relieve the stress of calling every day to no avail in slow periods. All in all though, they are good people and would reccomend them.

But after my experience with temping, I would say that the industry is a bit of a scam. It sucks you in and keeps you happy when you get work and listless and depressed when you don't. Especially for college grads who aren't sure what they want to do. I did it because I wasn't sure how or what to get a job in when I graduated. A year later I wish I had something better to put on my resume. Actually that isn't the worst thing about it. The worst is now that I want to get a real job, knowing that a large percentage of the supposed increase in the job market is taken up by temping where, as well as the fact that a large number of employers hire temp to perm rather than through traditional cover letter resume, etc...

The frustration in this is that you cannot target who you want to work for. As a temp you pretty much have to go where they want you, when they want you how they want you, or they'll call somebody 5 minutes later who will. So while I got some freedom out of it I feel like it is false freedom, you are chained to instability and limited security which is emotionally draining. For this reason I have decided to stop temping even though it was easy and paid well.

I would actually encourage my peers to do so as well and force employers to hire, pay benefits, and give security. I mean temping definitely has its place but in its present state I think it has way overstepped that in a way that is crippling the job market for entry-level jobs. It is already hard enough to land a job right when you get out of college.

Reporter:
hayley

Email:
hbuchbinder@mail.wesleyan.edu

Date:
April 29, 1996

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The Red Guide to Temp Agencies is copyright 1994-2004 by Angus B. Grieve-Smith.
It may be reproduced in its entirety, but may not be sold for profit or reproduced in part without written permission of the Editor.

Feel free to email me with questions or comments. Please do NOT email me your resume. I am not an employer, and I cannot get you a job. If you send me your resume anyway, I will report it to your internet provider. My email address is grvsmth@panix.com.