After college, like many others, I worked in retail but knew I wanted to start a career in an office environment. Without any previous experience, getting a permanent role felt like a challenge - so I turned to temporary work.

Temping opened the door to a whole new world. I worked across Essex and London, gaining experience in all sorts of businesses - large and small, public and private - doing everything from basic admin to more complex support work. Eventually, I secured a temporary HR position through a local agency. That role became permanent, and I stayed for several years before redundancy brought me to a new chapter: joining the recruitment agency that placed me.

There, I became a Temporaries Consultant, placing hundreds of temporary workers into a wide variety of office-based roles across the region. What always stood out to me was the unique way temporary work removes traditional hiring barriers.

When clients hire permanently, there’s a natural tendency to focus heavily on CVs and interviews. With temporary work, however, the trust lies with the agency. Clients rely on us to understand their needs and recommend the right fit. This opens up opportunities for candidates who might otherwise be overlooked - those changing careers, returning to work, recovering from health issues, or just needing that first foot in the door. Temping allows us to focus on mindset, potential, and transferable skills - not just whether someone has done the exact role before.

Over the years, I’ve seen temporary workers grow into long-term employees, move into brand new careers, or simply regain confidence after time away from the workplace. It's incredibly rewarding.

For businesses, temping is also a fast, flexible solution. Whether you’re covering seasonal peaks, absences, or project work, temporary workers can often start at very short notice. 

One of the most valuable approaches is the temp-to-perm model. This works brilliantly for newly created roles or when you're hiring someone from a different background who may not be the “obvious” choice on paper.

Temp-to-perm gives both parties a chance to trial the role and the fit. It doesn’t mean either side is less committed - it just adds a layer of assurance, and more often than not, it leads to better long-term retention.

At WE Talent, we’re proud to support businesses with this very approach. Temping isn’t just about plugging gaps - it’s a powerful way to build teams, open doors for talent, and explore potential beyond the traditional CV.

If your business has ever struggled to find the right person, or if you’ve been hesitant about taking a chance on someone who doesn’t tick every box, temping could be the solution you didn’t know you needed.

To find out how temporary recruitment could support your business, get in touch with our team at WE Talent - we’d love to help you explore the possibilities.

Website: we-talent.co.uk  

Phone: 01206 616 656 

Email: hello@we-talent.co.uk 

By Victoria Cooper, Managing Director – WE Talent