Where To Find Help Hiring Temps

Question: The economy is improving and I want to hire more help...maybe. My business is small, and I don't want to lock myself into anything long-term, so I am thinking about hiring temps. How do I find good temp candidates, with the right skills and who really want temp work?

Answer: Businesses both large and small are relying more on temporary workers these days for one reason: flexibility. According to the American Staffing Association (ASA), there are about 2.3 million temp and contract workers in the U.S., and about 2,100 new temp jobs are being added every business day. Temporary help agencies are a good way to go. They handle the recruiting, paperwork and other chores, leaving you more time to concentrate on other things. You'll pay for that help, but most business owners find it an amicable trade.

If the work is of the type that needs supervision under your direct control, temps are probably better than independent contractors. Your odds of success are best if you use resources and solutions that specialize in placing temporary workers, rather than those that offer it as a sideline. Here are some top choices:

• StaffSeek, at StaffingToday.net, is a terrific (and free) online service that can help you quickly find a temp staffing agency perfect for what you need. Select your state, the skills you need (office, clerical, professional, health care, technical, industrial, etc.) and the type of arrangement you want (temp, temp-to-permanent, etc.) and click search. StaffSeek will deliver a list of agencies, locations, phone numbers and the types of employment placements they offer. The American Staffing Association, an employment industry trade group based in Alexandria, VA, runs this. ASA members operate over 15,000 offices nationwide so you will likely find one in your area. Visit www.staffingtoday.net; call (703) 253-2020 or e-mail asa@staffingtoday.net.
  
  
• Net-Temps is an award-winning Web site that specializes in placing temporary workers. The "Employers" section lets you post a job, search candidates or request help from staffing specialists. You can search a continuously updated supply of temp job seekers, locally, regionally or nationally. Enter specific job criteria using the "search agent" feature and Net-Temps will notify you by e-mail of any matching candidates that show up. Visit the site at www.net-temps.com. Call (800) 307-0062; e-mail service@net-temps.com.
  
  
• These leading firms have offices nationwide offering temporary staffing solutions for small businesses of all types: Kelly Services (www.kellyservices.com; 888-GO-KELLY); Manpower Inc. (www.manpower.com; 414-961-1000) and Olsten Staffing Services (www.olsten.com; see the Web site for local contact information).
  
  
• A free Checklist for Hiring a Temporary Help Agency offers valuable advice on the pros, cons and pitfalls of working with a temp agency. It is available from Business Owner's Toolkit at their Web site: toolkit.cch.com. Enter "temporary help checklist" in the search tool to find it.
  
  
• Accountemps, a division of Robert Half International, places qualified temporary accounting and finance professionals via 325 offices worldwide. Visit the Web site at www.accountemps.com or call (800) 803-8367.

• Labor Ready is a specialist in providing temporary manual labor to the light industrial and small business markets. Labor Ready can quickly provide temporary workers for manual, skilled and semi-skilled positions in all industries. This firm has grown into a leader with over 700 branches providing temp labor to small businesses. Typical duties include construction cleanup, janitorial, light assembly, demolition, food processing, catering, waste hauling, fixture installation and many others. If you aren't happy with a worker and notify Labor Ready within the first two hours, you'll get an immediate replacement and won't be billed for the first worker. Visit www.laborready.com and click on the "branch locator" to find a nearby office, or call (800) 24LABOR.
  
  
• Other temporary labor resources with locations nationwide include Labor Express (www.laborexpress.com; 800-645-2640) and Labor Finders (www.laborfinders.com; 800-864-7749).
  
  
• The Electronic Blue Book of Building and Construction can help you find skilled or un-skilled temp workers for the building and construction industries. Go to www.thebluebook.com.