Walking into a staffing agency for the first time is a short visit if you come prepared, and a wasted trip if you do not. The goal is to leave with a completed application and your paperwork already verified, so that when a job matching your experience comes in, nothing is holding you back.
Here is what to bring, what to know off the top of your head, and what to ask before you leave.
Bring your identification and work authorization documents
Every employer in the United States has to verify identity and work authorization on Form I-9, and a staffing agency is your employer, so that step happens at the agency.
You can satisfy it two ways. Either bring one document that proves both identity and work authorization, or bring one document that proves identity plus a separate one that proves work authorization.
- One document that covers both: a U.S. passport or passport card, a Permanent Resident Card, or an Employment Authorization Document.
- Or two documents: a photo ID such as a Texas driver’s license or state ID card, together with an unrestricted Social Security card or a certified copy of your birth certificate.
Two things worth knowing. The documents have to be originals, not photocopies or photos on your phone. And the choice of which acceptable documents to present is yours. An employer cannot tell you which ones to bring, though the agency can explain the full list if you are unsure what you have.
Bring your work history, even without a printed resume
A resume helps, but plenty of good candidates do not have one, and that is fine. What matters is that you can fill out the application accurately. For each of your last few jobs, know:
- The company name and city
- Roughly when you started and ended, at least the month and year
- Your job title and what you actually did day to day
- Your supervisor’s name, if you remember it
- Why you left
Bring any certifications too. Forklift certification, food handler cards, OSHA cards, CDL, and welding credentials all open doors, and a recruiter cannot put you forward for those jobs if they do not know you have them.
Know your availability before you are asked
This is the question that decides how fast you get placed, and vague answers slow everything down. Be ready to say which shifts you can work, whether weekends are possible, how far you are willing to travel, and how you are getting to work.
Be honest about the limits. A recruiter who knows you cannot do overnights will stop offering them and find you something that fits. A recruiter who finds out on the first morning has lost a placement and so have you.
Say what you can actually do. A good match that lasts is worth more than a fast one that does not.
Bring two or three references
Former supervisors are best. If your work history is short, a teacher, coach, or someone who supervised you in volunteer work will do. Have a name, a phone number, and how they know you, and give them a heads up that a call may be coming.
Ask these questions before you leave
- What kinds of positions do you place most often, and do any fit my background?
- How and when will you contact me when something opens?
- How often does an assignment turn into a permanent job?
- How does pay work, and how often will I be paid?
- Is there anything I should add to my file to be considered for more roles?
One more thing that costs nothing: dress the way you would for the job you want. You may be sent to meet an employer the same day, and it happens more often than people expect.
Visit R&H Staffing in Laredo
Our Laredo office is at 8917 Molly Dr STE 1, Laredo, TX 78045. Bring your documents and we will get your application started. You can browse current openings, call (956) 712-8367, or reach us through our contact page if you would rather ask a question first.