How to Get a Job Through a Temp Agency

Updated November 6, 2026

How Do You Get a Job Through a Temp Agency?

To get a job through a temp agency, find offices that fill your kind of work, apply online or in person, and bring ID documents, a resume and your availability. After an interview and any skills or drug test, you wait for an assignment. Call or check in regularly, and answer quickly when an offer comes.

Updated November 6, 2026 · Source: manpower.broker staffing guide; rules of thumb, so confirm terms in the written agreement.

Temp agencies want reliable people they can place quickly. Make it easy for them to say yes.

What to Bring

Documents that prove identity and work eligibility. The employer must complete Form I-9, and you choose which acceptable documents to show.
A short resume, or work history with dates
References and any licenses or certificates
Your direct deposit details, if you are ready to work
Your real availability and transport options

What Happens Next

Application and interview
Skills tests, and possibly a background check or drug screen
Onboarding paperwork
Waiting for a matching assignment

Get Assignments Faster

Check in on a regular schedule, as your recruiter prefers.
Answer the phone: shifts often go to whoever replies first.
Sign up with two or three agencies. You normally can.
Finish every assignment and tell the recruiter early about problems.

Ask Before You Accept

What is the pay, and when is payday?
Where is the job, and what are the shift times?
What should I wear, and is safety gear provided?
How long will it last? Could it become permanent?

Use our job seeker checklist.

Find Staffing Agencies Near You