Temporary Staffing Agencies

In addition to providing income during your job search, a temporary staffing agency can help you:

  • Network for a permanent job
  • Become familiar with different companies
  • Meet people in your field
  • Build your skills with free training
  • Try out a particular employer
  • Increase work experience and add skills to your resume
  • Fill in a gap between graduation and work or between jobs
  • Decide on a career direction

Types of placements:

  • Temporary or contract, where you work on an interim basis
  • Temp-to-perm or temp-to-hire, where you work on a trial basis to determine if the job is a good fit
  • Direct hire or permanent, where you are recruited by the staffing firm and then hired by its customer

Fields handled by temp agencies include:

  • Health Care: Physicians, dentists, nurses, hygienists, medical technicians, therapists and home health aides
  • Professional: Accountants, bookkeepers, attorneys, paralegals, managers, advertising and marketing execs
  • Technical and Scientific: Engineers, scientists, lab technicians, draftsmen, tech writers, programmers
  • Clerical: Secretaries, general office clerks, receptionists, administrative assistants and cashiers
  • Industrial: Manual laborers, food handlers, cleaners, assemblers, drivers and maintenance workers

 

How it works:

  • Find the agencies that work in your field of interest; most candidates register with several.
  • Each company has its own application process, so check the website or call for directions.
  • Complete the application form, which includes education and employment history.
  • Most firms require a basic computer skills assessment or other test.
  • Many will conduct an interview on your first visit.
  • Bring copies of your resume and references.
  • Be patient and persistent. Check in at least once a week with firms you have registered with.

 

Some Boston-area firms:

All offer temporary, temp-to-perm and/or permanent assignments

 

GENERAL STAFFING AGENCIES

 

Aerotek
15 Braintree Hill Park Suite 100
Braintree, MA 02184
Phone: 781-356-6900

Specialties: Architecture, automotive, construction, energy, engineering, environmental, aerospace & defense, aviation, scientific, clinical research, administrative, accounting and finance, call center, mortgage, labor, manufacturing
Website:  www.aerotek.com

Ajilon
20 Custom House Street # 600
Boston, MA 02109
Phone: 617-345-0440

Specialties: Accounting, administrative & clerical, banking/finance/insurance, engineering & technical, healthcare, human resources & operation, sales & marketing
Website: www.ajilonusa.com

 

American Personnel
133 Federal Street # 4
Boston, MA 02110
Phone: 617-350-0080

Specialties: Accounting, administrative, healthcare, convention
Website: www.americanpersonnel.com

Cleary Consultants
21 Merchants Row
Boston, MA 02109
Phone: 617-367-7819

Specialties: Executive sales, marketing, accounting, banking, finance, legal, medical, IT, administrative and office support
Website: www.clearyconsultants.com

Hollister Associates Inc.
75 State Street, 9th Floor
Boston, MA 02109
Phone: 617-654-0200

Specialties: Accounting and finance, administrative, creative services & marketing, technology, and sales
Website: www.hollisterstaff.com

Kelly Services
10 Post Office Square
Boston, MA 02109
Phone: 617-536-9037

Specialties: Finance & accounting, education, engineering, information technology, law, science and healthcare
Website:   www.kellyservices.com

Manpower
93 Franklin Street
Boston, MA
Phone: 617-426-0566        

Specialties: Accounting & finance, call center & customer service, creative & marketing, engineering, hospitality, human resources, industrial & manufacturing, IT, nonclinical healthcare, office & administrative, sales
Website:  www.manpower.us

Professional Staffing Group
89 Devonshire Street
Boston, MA 02109
Phone: 617-250-1000

Specialties: Office support, creative, financial, technical, legal support, healthcare, human resources, marketing
Website: www.psgstaffing.com

 

Randstad
155 Federal Street
Boston, MA 02110
Phone: 617-350-6336

Specialties: Executive office, industrial, creative, finance and accounting, call center, IT, telecom/engineering
Website: www.us.randstad.com

Ultimate Staffing
101 Federal Street #2100
Boston, MA 02110
Phone: 617-330-1210

Specialties: Accounting, finance, administrative, clerical, customer service
Website: www.ultimatestaffing.com

 

SPECIALTY STAFFING AGENCIES

 

Aquent
711 Boyleston Street
Boston, MA 02116
Phone: 617-535-6000

Specialties: graphics, creative arts, communication, marketing, IT, and design
Website:  www.aquent.us

 

The Bowdoin Group
40 William Street
Wellesley, MA 02481
Phone: 781-263-5200

Specialties: financial technology services, technology sales and marketing, life sciences/biotechnology and information technology consulting
Website: http://bowdoingroup.com/

 

Capital Search Group
Independence Wharf
470 Atlantic Ave. 4th Floor
Boston, MA 02210
Phone: 617-482-9800

Specialties: financial services with a niche in investment management. Positions include traditional money management and support roles in marketing/sales, operations, client service, consulting
Website: http://www.capitalsearchgroup.com/

 

Ci Software
100 Cummings Center
Suite 127A
Beverly, MA 01915
Phone: 978-927-7777

Specialties: specializes in the temporary placement of IT computer contractors and consultants in the defense, financial, technical, healthcare, manufacturing and service industries
Website: http://cisoftware.com/

 

Commonwealth Sciences
11 Walpole Street
Norwood, MA 02062
Phone: 781-501-5000

Specialties: recruiting firm specializing in life sciences
Website: http://cwsciences.com/

 

Communications Collaborative
117 Huntington Avenue, 17th floor
Boston, MA 02115
Phone: 617-536-3700

Specialties: marketing, advertising, and communications
Website: www.communicationscollaborative.com

 

Dana Associates, Inc
353R Huron Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138
Phone: 617-661-0779

Specialties: specialize in placing sales and marketing professionals in the software, hardware, internetworking, telecommunications, business services
Website: www.danaassociates.com

 

To find additional temporary agencies in the Boston area:

Go to www.bostonchamber.com and follow these steps

Scroll over Member Center (top left of page)

Click Chamber Business Directory

Under Category/Keyword, click “List all Categories”

Select: Employment Agencies & Services