Please rate your staffing agency.

The top complaint is “[Staffing firm A] isn’t any good because they didn’t try very hard to get me a job. [Staffing firm B] is better.” Of course, then the next person says the opposite. It seems like many people think working with a staffing firm is like having your own personal assistant out there finding job opportunities for you. In reality, the recruiters and account managers at these companies have dozens (or hundreds) of clients, and there are a few things you can do to keep you at the top of their stack of candidates.

Following up with your contacts at staffing firms is important, of course, in keeping yourself on their minds. But, how you follow up is just as important as remembering to do it in the first place. You will get no where if you call to complain about not hearing from them. Let me repeat that: do not call your staffing firm and complain! Recruiters are people first, and they will try harder for you if they like you.

You need to find ways to remind them you exist without annoying the bejesus out of them. One way to do this is to send an updated resume. Any time I make a tweak or add anything to my resume, I send it along with a note about what I changed and why. Another good tip is to look out for job listings posted by the staffing firm (almost all of them have their own site that lists jobs, and they all use the major job boards), and contact your recruiter to let him or (more often around here anyway) her know you are interested. The worst that can happen is they might tell you they don’t think you’re a good fit for that position.

I also occasionally call just to check in and let the recruiter know what I am up to and what positions I’ve applied for. Often I have to leave a message, and just as often they don’t call back. But that’s OK. I don’t need them to call me back if they have nothing for me, but I do need them to remember I exist and to consider me when a new position comes across their desks.

That may change today, as I am interviewing for a three-month contract position through a staffing agency. The job isn’t exactly what I am looking for, but three whole months of steady pay is hard to turn down. If I get this gig, I will have less time for other freelancing, particularly taking meetings during the day or working on-site with clients, but I should be able to maintain some level of freelance work while contracting.

Contract work is also a great way to find your way into full-time employment, and it has worked for me at least twice in the past. Both times I was hired on full-time before my contract was even up. It gets you in the door where you can impress people with your work and your attitude. And best of all, some temp agencies pay every week, so you don’t have to wait up to a month (or more, depending on the client) for freelance checks.