I started a retail position the end of October after being unemployed for six months and unable to find another job in my field. Today I interviewed with a staffing company that told me they would have no problems placing me. I told the recruiter I was working retail randomly throughout the week and she suggested either quitting or reducing my hours to start at 6 p.m. or work strictly on the weekends.
I've worked with a staffing agency in the past, who was terrible and didn't place me for any kind of work. I'm a little nervous to reduce my availability to the retail store just in case this placement doesn't work out. I've talked to several other candidates who have been placed through this firm and they are all very happy and have nothing but good things, and were placed quickly. WDYT?
Re: WDYT?
Why does the staffing company want you to quit/reduce your hours at the retail location? Is it so that you'll be available for immediate interview/hire?
I would NOT quit the retail job OR reduce my hours. I've had people that we were almost 100% confident we could place, then something happened with the customer and the position was cancelled. I wouldn't put all of my eggs in their basket. Anything can happen.
Yes. The rep that I spoke with today showed me four different placements she has that she feels I would fit well with. This afternoon she has a staff meeting and placement. These are direct hire positions. The company also has over twenty temp positions they are looking to fill for the Holidays. They want me to be available during the day to take a temp position at last minute if necessary. She's informed me that the temp positions pay twice what my hourly rate in retail is.
Well, do you need the retail job, or is it something you can do without?
I think it's great if you can get a position making more money, but make sure you keep yourself safe. Don't just trust that you'll get the job. If you're 100% comfortable with dropping your current job to wait for a potential new one, go for it. Otherwise, keep yourself safe and don't let yourself wind up in the stink hole with no job...
At the moment it's not needed for money, since we have an e fund and I got a small severance package. However it has helped to keep me from going bonkers cleaning the house, and wondering why I'm not getting call backs on my resume.
I did get a call last night while I was working my retail job, that the company had found me a temp position. I attempted to put in my two weeks last night at retail since the temp position is for certain and I start Monday. It's long term and it will go through Feb, but is designed as a temp to hire position. The two managers I spoke to in retail won't let me quit so this creates a completely different problem.