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Finding a Temporary Job
June 24, 2002

Although I was happy to get the mentor program with Ernst & Young, it could not replace the need to find a paying job. Finding a job in late May or the beginning of June proved to be more difficult than I originally had anticipated. For almost an entire year I had been looking forward to getting experience in public accounting. I knew public accounting was now out of the question, but I was hoping I could do some kind of bookkeeping for a company. 

I decided to look into getting a job through a temp agency. A temp position would provide me with a flexible schedule to fit around the Ernst & Young Program. I initially went to Accountemps, a division of Robert Half International Inc., [Editor:  Accountemps and Robert Half have offices in many cities across the country] because it specializes in placing for various accounting and finance related positions. 

Unfamiliar with temp agencies’ hiring processes, I decided to go to the office to find out more, rather than calling on the phone. Although I did not have an appointment, the receptionist gave me the paper work and said I could meet with the staffing manager that day if I wanted. I filled out all the necessary paperwork, but decided to interview with the staffing manager the next day, as I knew I would have to come back anyway because I did not have the two forms of ID required for hiring purposes. 

Upon arriving to the office the next day, I was given a computer proficiency test for the Microsoft Word and Excel programs. The test was good for my point of reference because I now know what areas I excel in and which of the more difficult applications would be beneficial for me to learn. After completing the proficiency tests, I met with the Accountemps Staffing Manager. 

The interview consisted of discussing various points on my resume, from previous employment, to the various activities I participate in at PC. I also learned what the process would be for being placed into a position. Normally the staffing manager would call me with any possible employment opportunities. It is then up to me to decide whether the position was something I was interested in or it was something I would rather pass on. If for some reason I did not hear from them, I was to call to find out what the status was of any possible employment leads there might be in the near future. 

In addition to meeting with the Accountemps Staffing Manager, I also met with the Office Team Branch Manager, which is also part of the Robert Half International Company, found in the same office. She wanted to meet with me, to find out if I was interested in various office jobs if anything was not available in Accountemps. I told her that I would be willing to considering other office positions if an accounting related position was not available in a relatively short amount of time. After being there for approximately two hours between proficiency test and interviewing I was put into the system and all I could do was wait for an employment opportunity to come along.

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