The new school year has started!  Students are back on campus to attend classes in person once again.  Along with the influx of students comes the need for temporary employment.  When they’re not busy attending classes and studying, many students need part-time jobs to help with expenses.

Rather than wait tables or staff the register at a retail shop, students can find quality jobs with better experience and pay by partnering with a staffing agency.  Below are a few ways a temporary job through a staffing company can help college students build their future. 

Gain Real World Experience   

Many of the traditional part-time positions offered to students don’t cater to their professional needs or interests.  These employers are mainly interested in finding students who can perform menial tasks until they leave and are replaced by another student.

By partnering with a staffing agency, students can find positions related to their professional interests and goals.  These positions not only help students earn extra income, but they also help them gain something even more important: real-world experience in their field.  Best of all, if the student does an excellent job, they may be offered an extension on their contract, or even a full-time permanent job upon graduation.

Test the Market

Partnering with a staffing agency gives college students lots of flexibility.  Agencies not only help students find positions that fit their demanding school hours, they also help students determine if certain positions are right for them.  Students may choose a certain position only to realize that they are better suited for another role in that respective field.  After the contract expires, the student and agency work together to find a job opening that is more suited to their needs.  In this way, staffing agencies help develop job search strategies for college students by allowing them to test the market. 

Strengthen Soft Skills

In addition to gaining real-world experience in their field, temporary and contract work helps students strengthen their soft skills.  These non-job-specific skills are just as vital to students' professional development.  When hiring managers are reviewing resumes for potential candidates, they look for examples of effective communication, teamwork, time management, and organizational skills alongside professional “hard” skills. 

A staffing agency can assist students with finding a position that exposes them to new professional environments where they can build soft skills.  Contract work with an established company can help students enhance these skills more so than a traditional part-time job.

Build a Network

Professional success is built on a foundation of experience, skills, knowledge, and a strong network.  Students who find employment with a staffing agency can get a head start on building their network before they graduate.  Creating long-term professional relationships with others in your field helps students learn new skills, keep up with industry trends, seek advice, and extend assistance.  Most importantly, a strong professional network can open the door to future job opportunities.

Now you know some of the advantages that staffing agencies can offer college students on their search for a part-time job.  If you’re a student or a recent graduate looking to lay the foundation for your career, it’s time to contact the experts at Elite Personnel.  We’ll find the temporary and contract positions that fit not only fit your schedule and needs, they’ll also help you gain the experience and skills for a successful future in your field.