What’s it like to temp in New Zealand?

Madison Recruitment

22 Jun

7 mins read

Job Seeker career job seeker temping working holiday

If you have been keeping up to date with the insights shared by the Madison team over on our blog, you’ll know that we’re pretty big believers in the value of temping. In fact, temp work can be misunderstood due to several myths that exist in the market. For anyone that has worked in a temp assignment, or an employer that’s relied on temp staff, there’s a long list of benefits to this approach.

New Zealand, along with many other countries, are evolving their attitudes towards work, with the ‘gig economy’ for contractors and short-term work becoming more common and popular. For many people, the full-time permanent position may not suit where they are in their careers or their lifestyle in general. This can make temping very attractive.

We don’t just help place temp staff within our clients’ businesses. Madison also benefits from excellent temp staff. I talked to one of our temp superstars Jessica Williamson, who is working as a receptionist at Madison, to find out a bit more on what the experience is like.

How Jessica arrived at Madison

After working in a previous job for ten years before experiencing redundancy, Jessica wanted to make a career change but “knew I needed more skills on my CV”.

Jessica sought out Madison to help find a job that would help her do just that.

“The day after applying, I came into the Madison office for an interview with two different consultants”. The team discussed a few job opportunities, and when Jessica got home, she already had emails outlining the jobs discussed. But it was Madison as the employer that had the perfect role. “The day after meeting Madison, I got the job here! I know it’s not always that quick for everyone, but I was fortunate that things moved fast for me.”

What drew Jessica to temping?

“I really wanted to go temping because after so long in the same job, I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life”, Jessica says. “I was looking for a job to keep me going and I thought temping would help me figure out the industry I’d most enjoy”.

Temping offers people within the NZ workforce opportunities to experience different companies, responsibilities, and industries every day. Jessica is one of many who chose this type of work for that reason. We don’t always know which path to take at every point in our career, and that’s okay.

Expectations vs. experience

Having not been a temp employee before her role at Madison, I was curious to know what the actual temping experience was like vs. her hopes of what it would be.

“It’s actually pretty similar to what I thought. No one treats me differently because I’m a ‘temp’, and I can see a path for future development within Madison”, Jessica says. “Although I did underestimate the type of role I’d be doing – I thought it might be a basic, repetitive role but it’s more exciting than I’d anticipated”.

Jessica’s experience with temp work mirrors that of many of our other candidates. There’s a common misconception that the requirement for temp staff by employers is reserved only for jobs that are tedious. The reality is far from that.

Jessica’s role as Receptionist

Joining as the Madison Receptionist, Jessica’s job is varied, interesting and people-focused. “My position is the Receptionist here at Madison – I book rooms, do the administration work, assist with board meetings, and make sure everything stays clean and tidy. The best part about my job is I get to meet people all the time. It’s a great position for me, sitting in the middle of the office so I get exposure to everything and everyone. The people at Madison have been really welcoming.”

Temp roles, like reception, offer an opportunity to meet all sorts of people within an organisation, build relationships and learn about parts of the business that may present development opportunities. Reception specifically has the additional responsibility of greeting clients, candidates, and other visitors to the business.

New learnings in a new industry

Jessica came to Madison not having worked in the recruitment space before, sharing that “it’s been interesting to see how different industries work”, thanks to the broad range of fields Madison’s clients operate in.

“I’ve learnt so many new things; the phone system, the computer systems – and I’ve got really good at Outlook! I had spent a long time in customer service, so I’ve been able to use my skills and experience from that. It’s different though, talking to people about the job market.”

How Jessica is finding working as a temp

“I feel like I’ve been here for years! I feel at home. I’m still learning every day though, there’s new things that I’m picking up”, Jessica says.

The demands of reception at Madison means Jessica’s temp role has her working full days all week. “It’s great doing normal 8.30-5 / Monday – Friday. I get paid weekly, and I get all the same entitlements as perm staff like holidays and sick pay which was great at Easter time.”

“I’m really grateful for the opportunity, because I didn’t bring a lot of reception skills with me, so I’ve been able to pick up a lot of new things. It’s definitely also given me an opportunity to showcase my skills and capabilities in a role I didn’t necessarily have experience in.”

And perhaps the best endorsement any employer could ask for, Jessica is happy to report that “I’m able to be myself here.”

Looking ahead to the future

Temping is just the beginning of the next chapter of Jessica’s career. But it’s allowed her to be exposed to a new industry, learn new skills and enjoy many entitlements of a permanent staff member.

When I asked Jessica what her temping experience has meant for her long-term goals, she shared that perhaps her path has changed: “I was thinking about going into property when I first joined Madison but I knew I needed to get some more skills. So my plan was to get a temp role, learn everything I could and then take those skills with me. That’s changed now though.”

Jessica thinks perhaps she may have found her next calling thanks to this temp role at Madison. “Recruitment was a brand new industry for me but I enjoy it. I love the fast pace and the variety. I’m happy where I am – I can keep learning and developing.”

And we can’t wait to see what’s next for Jessica in her career journey!

Are you interested in temp work? Let’s chat.

Your next big career move might be through a temping role. If you’re based in the Auckland area, I’d love to discuss current opportunities.

Email: kate.godfrey@madison.co.nz

Phone: 09 303 4455

Or, if you’re based elsewhere in New Zealand, head over to our Contact page to send us an enquiry or contact your nearest Madison branch directly.

Madison Recruitment

Could it be time for a change?

Looking for a permanent role, or thinking about temping or contract work?

Nice to virtually meet you – our tips for nailing a video interview

Madison Recruitment

27 Oct

6 mins read

Job Seeker career technology tips video interview

We may be living in uncertain times, but many companies are still hiring. So, your CV has caught someone’s eye? Excellent. You have an interview lined up? Even better, but the catch is that you are not being invited into an office, instead you will be having a virtual interview and meet the interviewer or hiring manager through a computer screen.

Whether you are interviewing via Google Hangouts, Skype, Zoom, or a specialised platform such as Odro, you will find that the process is both familiar and quite different at the same time. While you may know the basics, it never hurts to up your game, so we put together some tips (and tricks) to make sure you nail your next video interview.

Put your best (dressed) foot forward

Just because it is a video interview does not mean you can skimp on effort for your appearance, as 90% of the cues we give are non-verbal it is important that you look professional. A good rule of thumb is to dress one rung above the company’s dress code; if the company leans towards smart-casual then consider slipping on a tie or jacket. Another trick is to wear your work shoes during the video call, and while this might seem odd or unnecessary, it does help you get into a work-ready frame of mind.

Make sure your hair is neat and combed, and men, if you are sporting a beard – ensure it is neat and trimmed. As it is only your upper body that is showing some people might consider wearing a formal top with their PJ bottoms – but remember something can go wrong and you may have to get up to adjust your computer or stop to pick up a child or animal that suddenly runs into the room.

Also, make sure you wear a solid colour as stripes and patterns tend to show up poorly on camera.

Create a peaceful and professional environment

When you have an in-person interview, the organisation and the interviewer often dictate the physical setting, but for a remote interview the ball is in your court to create a good impression with your physical environment.

Ensure that the room is neat and tidy and if possible, choose a room with a door that you can close to shut off any outside noise. Additionally, make sure the only window open on your desktop is the video platform you are using, and put your phone on silent to avoid any distractions.

On that note (and there is no nice way to say this) you need to banish your children, pets, house mates and other people in your home from your interview space. A good rule of thumb is if you would not bring them along to an in-person interview, then they should not make a cameo appearance in a video interview.

Keep your eyes on the prize, and a smile on your dial

It can take a bit of practice and may feel a bit silly, but during the interview you should direct your gaze at the camera, not the image of your interviewer on the screen. Be mindful that if you look around away from the camera, or stare into space for too long, it can look as though you are not engaged. Essentially, looking at the camera is the closest you are going to get to making eye contact with the interviewer. It is also a good idea to elevate your laptop or phone to eye level by stacking boxes or books underneath it so that you can look directly into the camera without craning your neck or slouching.

It is harder to smile when you are not in a face-to-face meeting, but keep in mind that a smile puts people at ease and helps to make a good impression.

Get familiar with the tech

Cut down on technical difficulties by testing out your set-up ahead of time, using the same platform, internet connection, and hardware you will be using for your interview. If you do not already have an account with the platform your interviewer is using, then create one and download the required software. It may also be a good idea to install a standby copy on another device if you have one (for instance on both your laptop and tablet or phone) just in case you have an issue with your primary device.

Enlist a friend or family member to help you do a test run through to make sure the video and audio are working, and to give you a chance to figure out the best lighting. Take time to get familiar with the software and make sure you know the basics, particularly how to answer the call and how to mute and unmute yourself. Additionally, some video platforms let you record your interview so afterwards you can go back and identify any elements you may need to work on.

Of course, tech issues happen – so try not to get flustered or angry – just stay calm and hang up and then try to reconnect again. Also, draw attention to a tech problem immediately, you do not want to answer a question that you couldn’t really hear and it shows that you address problems as they arise – a trait that employer’s value.

Remember, interviews are a conversation, not an interrogation

This is vital for any interview, but it is particularly vital to treat your remote interview like a conversation because it is the only way that you will be able to connect with your interviewer. In a physical interview you have the opportunity to make small talk before and after the interview, but in a remote interview it is up to you to ensure that you build rapport. Be yourself and try to be personable, you want to communicate as if you are talking to someone that you know well, while remaining professional.

Remember that you also hold the reigns in an interview, so it is also your responsibility to direct the flow away from ‘question: answer: question: answer’. When the interviewer comments or responds to your answers, feel free to add anything additional that you would like to say. Also, feel free to ask questions during the interview where appropriate instead of waiting until the end. You want your interviewer to view you as someone that they can have a conversation with, not just the recipient of their list of questions.

For more helpful advice and tips on job hunting, writing a CV and other interview insights, check out more of our blogs.

Madison Recruitment

Could it be time for a change?

Looking for a permanent role, or thinking about temping or contract work?