Working in a temp travailler en boite d’intérim doesn’t usually result in long-term work, but it can be a good way to build skills and experience. The most common jobs are administrative or light industrial — the types of positions that don’t require special degrees, education or industry experience. Staffing agencies have pools of workers they send to clients on short-term assignments that last from a day to a week, and some even offer seasonal or same-day work.

Insider Insights: How Temporary Agencies Facilitate Employment Opportunities

As the gig economy expands and temps become more in demand, temp agencies will likely remain vital for their clients. Companies often use them to meet temporary labor needs, such as extra customer service reps during the holidays or accountants for tax season. Temp agencies have large pools of employees who are qualified for these roles and can quickly fill in the gaps when there aren’t enough full-time hires available.

Unlike a regular employer, temp agencies are responsible for hiring and paying their employees. They also have the advantage of knowing employment laws and regulations, which can be helpful in ensuring both temporary workers and the client company are in compliance.

Temp agencies usually interview their applicants and have some sort of system for ranking them, which helps them find the most suitable worker for an assignment. A client will enter into a contract with the temp agency specifying what type of worker they need and what hourly rate they are willing to pay. The agency then draws from their pool of workers and places them at the client, a process that sometimes involves health testing or other assessments.