GRAND RAPIDS—
Finding a job in today's economy isn't easy, but for some, finding a temp job has been the key to getting their foot in the door. Staffing Inc., a division of Axios in Grand Rapids, says its helped 300 people return to full-time work this year. The company generally helps people who have been unemployed for six to eight months find work in industrial-type companies."There is work out there to be had, but it's just a matter of getting out there and beating the pavement," said Scott Lisman, a Human Resources Consultant for Axios. "Now with unemployment, people reaching the end of the year and a half, it's really a desperation of individuals out there right now."
21-year-old Michael Dreyer says it worked for him. After being laid off last year, a friend told him about Axios. "I decided to go down one day and fill out an application, and was quite surprised at how fast they they had got me a job," he explained.
Dreyer landed a job at the old Steelcase factory within three days. By August, he moved over to another position at Pella Windows. By March, the company offered him a full-time job.
"I think it's something a lot of people overlook," Dreyer told FOX 17. " If you just work hard and prove to the company that you're working for as a temp that you want to work there, it will eventually pay off."
Lisman said the temp job route to employment might mean a pay cut.
"They're a lot more people coming in making $60-70 thousand a year, accepting nine dollars and hour jobs," he said. "it was a hard pill for them to swallow at first, but a lot of them understand the time that we're in and decided to bite the bullet."
