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The best temp agencies in NYC

Whether you’re in need of extra cash or desperate for a new career, these temp agencies in NYC have you covered

Written by
Alison Kotch
&
Sarah Rammos
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It’s true: New York is one of the best places to live if you want to jumpstart your career (the city is bursting with networking opportunities and startups). But when your rent is due, and you want to go shopping in NYC, it’s nice to know you have money in the bank. Before you consider turning your secret talent or hobby into a business of your own (which is not a bad idea: It worked for these New Yorkers that break the millennial stereotypes), consider sending your résumé to a temp agency. NYC has plenty of staffing resources that can place you in a job for either a week or up to a few months, if needed. And you’ll feel better about spending your hard-earned dollars at one of the best restaurants or clubs in NYC when you know there’s fresh moolah coming in. We’ve ranked some of the city’s top agencies by profession, so it’s easy to choose the one that’s right for you, from career changers to recent graduates and folks looking for pocket change.

Best temp agencies in NYC

Best for Creative Industries: Artisan Talent
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1. Best for Creative Industries: Artisan Talent

Artisan specializes in placing talent on a permalance basis. Job hunters with digital and marketing experience are encouraged to apply, but other creative types (like social media editors, videographers and visual designers) will also have good luck finding hourly work for an indefinite period of time. Twenty-two candidates are placed each month, and you can also request full-time jobs, so it doesn’t hurt to ask if that’s what you’re after. 37 West 20th Street, Suite 610 (212-475-5009, artisantalent.com)

2. Best for Accounting: WinterWyman

This Massachusetts-based agency recently won a Best of Staffing talent award from the happily employed temp and permanent employees they helped place. And no wonder: They pride themselves on making sure all candidates have the best experience possible. “WinterWyman is committed to treating job seekers with respect and honesty,” says Amy Finn, director of candidate experience and marketing. Past clients include powerful Fortune 500 companies to cutting-edge startups. Check out their blog for more job search tips and insights. 880 Winter Street, Suite 200 (781-890-7000, winterwyman.com)
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Best for Marketing and Advertising: Atrium Staffing
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3. Best for Marketing and Advertising: Atrium Staffing

Atrium interviews 12,000-plus candidates per year and is able to place approximately 65 percent of them, mainly in fashion companies, marketing and advertising firms, pharma/biotech companies, not-for-profits and finance firms. Job lengths tend to vary (along with the heft of the paycheck), with temp wages beginning at $15 an hour, although exec positions obviously earn more. “Over 84 percent of our applicants are referral-based,” says Atrium’s marketing director, Jamie Parks. “We’ve also expanded in the past year and a half. Atrium has grown to include administrative support, creative, IT, science and health-care placements.” Fit the bill? Apply online. 71 Fifth Ave at 15th St, 3rd Fl (212-292-0550, atriumstaff.com)

4. Best for Finding A New Career: Career Group Inc.

When someone is moved to write a flattering haiku on Yelp about a temp agency, chances are the group has something going for it. CG deals with finance, advertising, real estate and fashion companies and places its temps in office, clerk, assistant, customer-service and managerial positions. President Susan Levine has more than 30 years of experience in employment agencies, and while she won’t divulge names, she assures us that CG has “very desirable clients.” The agency also offers 401k eligibility for employees who complete a year of service and 1,000 hours on assignment. Receptionists make $12 to $18 an hour, whereas admins rake in between $15 and $35 an hour. As Levine explains, “If you have the skills, there is a job for you.” Interested parties can e-mail their resume and cover letter to CGINY@careergroupinc.com. 1212 Sixth Ave between 47th and 48th Sts (212-750-8188, careergroupinc.com)
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Best for Tons of Options: Kelly Services
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5. Best for Tons of Options: Kelly Services

This national agency was founded in 1946, and opened its first NYC office in midtown 12 years later. Today, Kelly Services receives thousands of applications from the New York metro area annually. “Approximately 20 to 25 percent of our jobs convert to full-time employment through our temporary-to-hire option,” says Tom Lawrence, vice president of the New York City territory. “It provides the advantage of determining if the candidate and the employer are the right fit for each other.” Kelly Services has placed people in Fortune 100 companies (based on the ranking from the annual Fortune 500 list) for positions including executive administrative assistants, receptionists, accountants, financial analysts, designers, desktop and help-desk support technicians, software developers, attorneys and paralegals. To review job openings or apply, contact a local office. 237 Park Ave between 45th and 46th Sts (212-949-5313); 420 Lexington Ave between 43rd and 44th Sts, suite 200 (212-949-8545); kellycareernetwork.com
Best for Marketing and Events: All Aces Promotional Staffing
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6. Best for Marketing and Events: All Aces Promotional Staffing

The last time you went to a really memorable event, you probably weren’t thinking of the work it took to pull it off. Enter All Aces: This agency helps staff events for a huge range of industries, from food and beverage to technology, toys and gaming to gain exposure. They also help larger clients—like Google, Sierra Mist, and television shows like Batman vs. Superman—with event staffing and marketing. Commitment time ranges from one to several events, so consider this your opportunity to try something completely new (while earning cash in the process!) 115 West 18th Street, 2nd Floor (646-829-1602, acespromo.com)
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7. Best for Women: Taylor Hodson

The 100 to 200 rsums submitted through Taylor Hodson’s website on a daily basis are reviewed within 24 hours, and at this fast-paced agency, the squeaky wheel gets the grease. According to Ed Reagan, director of temporary staffing, following up with a phone call after a few days will increase your chances of being one of the 50 job hunters asked in for an interview each week. Hodson’s placements include temporary, permanent and temp-to-perm positions, concentrated in administrative and clerical support. The average length of a gig is a week or two, but they range from a day to a month. 133 W 19th St between Sixth and Seventh Aves (212-924-8300, taylorhodson.com)

8. Best for Quick Gig-Finding: Adecco Staffing

Adecco receives thousands of rsums annually from job candidates in the United States, and it finds work for about 500,000 people nationwide each year. The global agency specializes in a range of industries, including marketing, creative, finance, publishing, fashion and administrative services. “Our clients are virtually every single Fortune 500 company,” says public-relations specialist Vannessa Almeida. Visit the company’s website to search current job openings and upload your rsum. 51 Fifth Ave between 45th and 46th Sts, suite 500 (212-391-7000, adeccousa.com)
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9. Best for Nonprofits: Professionals for Nonprofits

Those looking to save the world (and themselves, from bankruptcy) should check out Professionals for Nonprofits, an agency that's been placing temps in museums, universities, NGOs and philanthropic organizations since 1996. Positions are wide-ranging, and include fund-raising, finance, executive management, human resources, marketing, communications, information technology and administration. Once you’re in, you can expect to get frequent calls, offering fill-in work for a day, a month or even six-month stretches. Lucky for you, temps in the nonprofit sector are currently in high demand, a trend that Rick Bressler, PNP’s business development director, attributes to the “improving health of the economy.” PNP’s list of clients includes Doctors Without Borders, the American Red Cross, United Way and the American Museum of Natural History. 515 Madison Ave at 53rd St, suite 1100 (212-546-9091, nonprofitstaffing.com)
Best for Finance, Risk and Compliance: Aston Carter
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10. Best for Finance, Risk and Compliance: Aston Carter

With offices in London, Asia and throughout North America, Aston Carter specializes in helping people in the financial industry—including governance, risk and compliance—find jobs. And you can be sure that wherever you’re placed is well-vetted: They screen companies worldwide to learn about the culture and values of each place, and use a referral-based sourcing strategy to ensure a perfect employee and company match. 757 3rd Avenue, 8th Floor (212-588-5800, astoncarter.com)

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