I applied online. The process took 1 day. I interviewed at PoliTemps (Washington, DC) in Sept 2011
Interview
Submit your resume through the online application form. If you seem like a vaguely competent person, you get called in for a computer test and an in-person. The computer test is just your basic "can you use word and excel". In-person is generic (this is a temp agency) but they try to get a sense of where you are going, what you want to be doing. You'll fill out a detailed form for recommendations as well, and they'll get recommendations from former employers/contacts.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
What sort of places would you most like to work at?
I applied online. The process took 6 months. I interviewed at PoliTemps in Sept 2012
Interview
I applied online and got a call. They asked me if I was free and I explained I was currently an intern, but would be available as soon as I gave 2 week notice. "Give us a call when you're free," the person replied. I was surprised and asked why. The person repeated that I should contact them when I was no longer at the internship.
Weird, because according to their website a candidate must reside in the Washington DC area, but there's nothing about not working in order in order to be interviewed. Anyway, I found myself free not long after and updated and submitted my resume. I got a call and arranged a time for an interview. The process included a Microsoft Word and Excel assessment, filling out contact information and other paperwork, plus an interview. It included standard questions such as what brought me to the area, what was I studying, what was I looking for. At the time I distinctly remember telling the interviewer that I was looking for a long-term, permanent work ideally, or at least longer term work. She assured me that they offered a wide range of assignments, but it would vary and sometimes a candidate would have to be super quick in responding.
After they contacted my references I started getting calls from them. I missed the first assignment and got a call again. I called back as soon as I could and we talked about the position. She said it was a temp position for administrative work, for 6 weeks. I said i was really looking for long-term work, and that I had stated that in my application and during our interview. "Well, we don't have any positions right now," the interviewer said. I replied I was not interested.
That was it for 6 months. I applied periodically but never got a response. One day they called me at random, asking me to come in again. So I had to go in again, interview again and fill out all the paperwork again. I don't recall any different questions since I reminded them I had been there before. Still, I had to fill out everything again. They had seemed positive about the application, but I have not heard from them at all. I am not inclined to follow-up because I do not want to go through the process again for a job that may only last 6 weeks.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Know your resume and be able to answer the standard interview questions. They will coach you and ask detailed questions that may help sharpen a candidate's interview skills.