Most people picture registering with a temp agency as handing over a CV and waiting for the phone to ring. In practice it is closer to a short job interview with an identity check attached, and how that hour goes shapes how often your name comes up afterwards. Here is the whole sequence for a first registration, in the order you will meet it: before, during and after.
What registration actually is
A temp or staffing agency places workers with client companies for a set period. Staffing agency registration puts you on the agency's books: your details, your availability and your skills go into a database that consultants search when a client calls. It is not a job offer and usually not a contract of employment. The contract tends to come later, attached to a specific assignment.
Who legally employs you during an assignment varies. In some countries the agency is your employer, in others you may be classed differently, and the rules on pay and rights differ too. So treat anything you read online, including this page, as a starting point and check the rules where you work.
Before you book, look at the jobs the agency advertises. Most branches lean towards particular sectors, such as warehousing, office support, hospitality or healthcare. A branch that fills forklift shifts all week will have little for a bookkeeper, however good the CV. Ten minutes on its job board saves you an unproductive trip.
Before the appointment: what to bring
Many agencies want a booked slot rather than a walk-in, and many now start with an online form. Fill it in properly even if it repeats your CV, because that form is often what ends up in the system. Then get your paperwork together. The exact list depends on the country and the type of work, but it usually looks like this:
- Photo ID, such as a passport or national identity card
- Right-to-work documents, if your ID alone does not prove it
- Your tax or social security number
- Bank details for pay
- An up-to-date CV, on paper and as a file
- Contact details for two references
- Original certificates and licences for anything you claim, such as a forklift licence, food hygiene certificate or driving licence
Originals matter. A consultant generally has to see and copy the real document, and a phone photo of a certificate may not count. If you are unsure, ring the branch the day before and ask what they need, because a missing document can mean a second trip and a delay before you can be placed.
Two parts of that list deserve some preparation. If your status needs explaining, the guide to right to work on a CV covers the wording. And warn your referees now, because agencies often check references early, sometimes before a client has even seen your name. The piece on references on a CV explains how to line them up.
As for the CV itself, keep it to the skills and duties a client would pay for. If you already have a patchwork of short jobs, there is a separate guide to listing contract and agency work. If your LinkedIn profile is more current than any CV you own, Postulit can turn it into one in time for the appointment, and you can then trim it for the sectors this branch serves.
During the appointment: interview and skills tests
Dress one level above the work you are after, and arrive on time. Consultants are quietly judging the thing clients care about most: will this person turn up? Punctuality at registration is the first evidence they get.
The interview itself is usually practical and short. Expect questions about what you have done, what you will accept and what you will not. Be specific. "I'll do anything" sounds helpful, but it gives the consultant nothing to search on. "Warehouse picking or goods-in, early or late shifts, within 40 minutes of home by bus" gets you found. Have these answers ready:
- Which days and shifts you can work, and how soon you can start
- How far you can travel, and how you get there
- The hourly rate you need
- Whether you want temporary work only or hope to move into a permanent role
Say honestly if you hope to go permanent. Some assignments are set up with that in mind, and a consultant can only steer you towards them if they know.
Skills tests depend on the sector. Office candidates might sit typing, spreadsheet or spelling tests on a computer in the branch. Industrial and warehouse candidates may get basic numeracy or a safety induction. Care and healthcare work usually brings extra background checks that take longer. If you know a test is coming, ask what software version it uses and practise beforehand, because scores often stay on your record.
How consultants match you to assignments
When a client phones with an urgent need, the consultant rarely has time to read every profile. They filter by skill, location and availability, then ring the people who come to mind first. Assignments often go to whoever answers and can start tomorrow, so matching depends on your data and on reachability as much as on your CV.
That is why the details you give at registration matter so much. Say your record shows "available weekdays" and you have since become free on Saturdays. You will not appear in a Saturday search unless you tell them. The agency may also rewrite your CV into its own format before a client sees it, which is another reason to give accurate, concrete information.
Early assignments can be small: two days covering reception, one week in a warehouse. Take the first reasonable one if you can. A good report from a client is what moves you up a consultant's list, and a no-show moves you down quickly.
Staying top of mind, even across several agencies
Registration fades fast. Ring or message your consultant once a week with something useful: "I'm free from Monday, and I've renewed my forklift licence." Keep it brief. Answer unknown numbers while you are actively looking, or return the call within the hour, since a slow reply can lose you the shift.
Registering with several agencies at once is normal, and it widens your reach because clients often use only one or two suppliers. Tell each consultant, and keep your own record of what each has offered. Check your contract for any exclusivity or notice terms, and if a client approaches you directly, read the rules on moving to that client before saying yes. Those terms vary widely by country.
What to ask before you sign
Once a specific assignment comes up, slow down for five minutes. Paperwork often arrives in a hurry, and it is reasonable to read it before you sign. Ask for these points in writing:
- The pay rate, including any overtime or night rates
- Who employs you, and who pays you
- How long the assignment should last, and the notice either side must give
- How holiday pay is handled
- Pay dates and how you submit your hours
A reputable agency should not charge you for finding you work, and in many countries that is prohibited. Fees for vague "registration" or "training" deserve a hard look, and your local labour authority can usually tell you what is allowed.
Your checklist for this week
Pick two agencies whose job boards show work you want, and book both appointments. Put your ID, right-to-work documents and original certificates in one folder tonight, warn two referees, and write your availability in a single sentence. Then set a weekly reminder to contact each consultant, starting on the Monday after you register.