How staffing agencies work: who employs you, who pays you, and what to ask.
A staffing agency can put you to work quickly, sometimes within days. Knowing how the arrangement works helps you choose the right roles and avoid surprises.
A staffing agency recruits workers for client companies. For temporary and contract roles, the agency often employs you, pays your wages and bills the client; for permanent placements, the client hires you directly and the agency is paid by the client. Temp-to-hire roles start through the agency with the possibility of a direct offer later. Ask who employs you, your pay rate, the assignment length and benefits before you start.
Types of placement
Temporary
Short assignments covering busy periods or absences. You may be employed by the agency.
Contract
A set period or project, common in IT, engineering and finance.
Temp-to-hire
A trial period through the agency before a possible direct offer. See contract-to-hire.
Direct hire
The agency finds candidates; the client hires you directly.
Fees
Agencies are generally paid by the client. The FTC advises walking away if a placement firm asks you for a fee.
Getting started with an agency
- Choose agencies that specialise in your field.
- Register, interview with a recruiter and complete any skills tests.
- Agree your pay rate, availability and the roles you'll accept.
- Before each assignment, confirm who employs you, pay, hours and length.
- Keep in touch between assignments.
2 copy-ready templates
Illustrative: names, companies, dates and numbers in these templates and examples are fictional. Replace every bracket with your own true details before you use anything.
Questions before accepting an assignment
When to use: Ask the agency recruiter.
Who will be my employer for this assignment, the agency or the client? What is the hourly pay rate, and how often am I paid? How long is the assignment, and could it lead to a permanent role? Are any benefits available, and when do they start? Who do I contact if there's a problem on site?
Register with an agency
When to use: First email to a specialist agency.
Hello, I'm looking for [temporary / contract / temp-to-hire] work as a [role] in [area], available from [date] for [full-time / part-time]. I have [experience and key skills]. Resume attached; I'd be glad to come in or talk by phone. [Your name] · [Phone]
Disclosure: TryHired makes HIRED, a paid job-search program, so we have a conflict of interest when we mention it. Everything on this page is free to use without buying anything.
When an agency makes sense
| Situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| Need income quickly | Temporary assignments. |
| Want to try an employer first | Temp-to-hire. |
| Project-based field | Contract roles. |
| Agency asks you to pay | Walk away. |
The same move, done two ways
Illustrative example with fictional details.
| Version | Example |
|---|---|
| Weak | Started an assignment without asking who the employer was or how long it would last. |
| Strong | Confirmed the agency was the employer, the rate, weekly pay, a twelve-week assignment and who to call on site, then accepted. |
Why it matters: Staffing arrangements vary. A few questions upfront prevent surprises about pay, length and benefits.
Mistakes to avoid
- Not asking who your employer is.
- Paying a fee to register.
- Registering with agencies outside your field.
- Losing touch between assignments.
What official sources say
Quoted word for word from official pages; state law, local law and your contract can add rules.
- Federal Trade Commission, Job Scams: "If a placement firm asks you for a fee — especially one you have to pay in advance — walk away." Accessed Nov 3, 2026.
Keep going
Questions people ask
Do staffing agencies charge you?
Who pays you when you work through a staffing agency?
Can a temp job become permanent?
What's the difference between a staffing agency and a recruiter?
How this page is built
Written by Maid Dizdarevic, a career coach and 8x LinkedIn Top Voice. The steps, scripts and timing guides are practical advice, labelled as advice. We do not publish response rates, success rates or shares of employers, and every example uses fictional details. Official facts are quoted word for word from the pages listed under Sources.
- How a specific employer, recruiter or manager will act: practices vary by company, industry and person.
- Legal advice: for contracts, background-check disputes, pay classification or a termination, talk to an employment attorney, the U.S. Department of Labor or your state agency.
- Outcomes: no message, plan or program can promise an interview, a raise or a job.
- TryHired editorial guidance by Maid Dizdarevic, career coach, Nov 4, 2026.
- Federal Trade Commission, Job Scams: "If a placement firm asks you for a fee — especially one you have to pay in advance — walk away." Accessed Nov 3, 2026.