What Hays does and who uses it
Hays is a staffing and recruitment company that matches workers with temporary, contract, and permanent jobs across industries including finance, healthcare, IT, engineering, and administration. The company operates in more than 30 countries and works with both job seekers and employers. If you are looking for work through Hays, you register with a local branch or online, and recruiters there connect you to open positions that match your skills and experience.
Hays is not a government program or a job board where you post your own resume and explore directly. Instead, Hays recruiters actively search their candidate database to fill specific roles their client companies have requested. This means you do not browse job listings and explore on your own — you work with a Hays recruiter who learns what you want and then presents you to employers they think are a fit.
The company makes money when it places you in a job, so Hays has financial incentive to understand what you need and what employers are looking for. You do not pay Hays a fee; the employer pays a placement fee or ongoing commission if you stay in the role.
Key Takeaways
- Hays connects you to jobs through a recruiter, not through a self-service job board, so you need to register and speak with someone at your local branch.
- Temporary and contract roles through Hays often come with faster start dates than permanent positions, sometimes within days or weeks.
- Your Hays recruiter is paid when you are placed, so they have reason to match you carefully to roles where you are likely to stay.
- Hays handles payroll for temporary assignments, meaning you receive a paycheck from Hays rather than directly from the client company.
- The types of roles available and the industries Hays focuses on vary by location and by which Hays division you contact.
How to register and work with a Hays recruiter
Start by finding your local Hays office or visiting the Hays website for your country. In the United States, Hays operates through several specialized divisions — Hays Technology, Hays Finance, Hays Healthcare, and others — each focused on different industries. You can contact the division that matches your background, or you can go to a general Hays office and ask to be directed.
When you register, you will provide your work history, skills, certifications, and the types of roles you are interested in. Bring or upload copies of your resume, any relevant licenses or degrees, and references. A recruiter will then review your profile and contact you when they have a role that fits. This process is not instantaneous — depending on how many open positions Hays has and how well your background matches current demand, you might hear back within days or it might take weeks.
Once a recruiter presents you to an employer, the employer may conduct an interview. If they want to hire you, Hays handles the paperwork, background check, and onboarding. For temporary roles, Hays becomes your employer of record, meaning they process your paycheck, withhold taxes, and handle benefits (if any). For permanent placements, you become an employee of the client company directly.
Temporary versus permanent roles through Hays
Hays places people in three main types of roles: temporary (usually a few weeks to a few months), contract (typically three months to a year or longer), and permanent (direct hire). The type of role affects your pay structure, benefits, and job security.
Temporary and contract roles start faster — sometimes within a week — because the employer needs someone quickly and Hays already has vetted candidates on file. You are paid by the hour or by the day, and Hays handles your payroll. These roles are useful if you need income quickly, want to test out a company before committing, or are between permanent jobs. The downside is that the role ends on a set date, so you have no may provide of continued work after that.
Permanent placements take longer to fill because employers are more selective, but once you are hired, you become a regular employee with the same benefits and job security as anyone else hired directly. Hays still collects a fee from the employer, but you are no longer Hays's employee — you work for the client company.
Pay, taxes, and what to expect on your first day
For temporary and contract roles, Hays calculates your pay based on the hourly or daily rate the employer agreed to. Your paycheck comes from Hays, not from the client company. Hays withholds federal and state income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, just as any employer would. If you are unsure whether taxes are being withheld correctly, you can ask your Hays recruiter or contact Hays payroll directly.
On your first day at the client company, you will likely meet your supervisor and receive basic orientation. Hays may also assign you a contact person — sometimes called a "branch consultant" or "account manager" — who checks in periodically to make sure the role is going well. If problems arise, you can contact Hays, and they can advocate for you or help move you to a different assignment.
Temporary roles do not usually include health insurance, retirement plans, or paid time off, though some longer contracts do. Ask your Hays recruiter what benefits, if any, come with the specific role before you accept it. If you need health coverage, you may need to purchase it separately or through a spouse's plan.
What happens when a temporary role ends
When a temporary assignment ends, your employment with Hays ends unless they place you in another role. There is no severance or notice period — you straightforward stop working on the end date. If you want continued work, contact your Hays recruiter as soon as you know the end date is approaching. They may have another assignment lined up, or they may need time to find one.
Some people work a series of temporary roles through Hays over months or years, moving from one assignment to the next. Others use a temporary role as a bridge to a permanent job — either with the client company (some employers hire temporary workers into permanent roles) or elsewhere. There is no penalty for leaving Hays to take a permanent job elsewhere; you are free to do so.
Common reasons people use Hays and what to watch for
People turn to Hays for several reasons: they need work quickly, they want to explore a new industry or company before committing long-term, they are between jobs, or they prefer the flexibility of temporary work. Hays can be a good fit if you are comfortable with uncertainty about how long a role will last and if you do not need when ready access to employer-sponsored health insurance.
One thing to watch: make sure you understand the end date of any temporary role before you accept it. Some temporary assignments turn into permanent roles, but most do not. Do not assume a temporary role will become permanent unless the employer or Hays explicitly says so in writing. Also, confirm the pay rate and whether it includes any benefits before you start — rates and benefits can vary widely by role and location.
If you are placed in a role and it is not a good fit, tell your Hays recruiter. They can sometimes move you to a different assignment or help you understand what went wrong. Hays wants you to succeed in the role because they are paid when you are placed, so they have incentive to listen.
Hays versus other staffing options
Hays is one of many staffing companies, and the choice between them often depends on your industry and location. Staffing firms that focus on your field — whether that is nursing, IT, accounting, or manufacturing — may have deeper networks in that industry. Smaller, local staffing companies may move faster or offer more personal attention. Job boards like Indeed or LinkedIn let you explore directly without a recruiter middleman, though you do not get the same level of matching and advocacy.
If you are unemployed and looking for work, you might also explore your state's workforce development office or a local American Job Center, which offer free job search support and sometimes training. These services do not place you in jobs the way Hays does, but they can help you identify skills gaps and connect you to employers directly.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to get placed in a job through Hays?
For temporary roles, placement can happen within days or a week or two if your skills match current openings. For permanent roles, the timeline is longer — often several weeks — because employers interview multiple candidates. It depends on demand in your field and how well your background matches what Hays clients are looking for.
Do I have to pay Hays a fee to register or to be placed?
No. You do not pay Hays anything. The employer pays Hays a placement fee or ongoing commission. Registration is free, and there is no charge to work with a recruiter.
What if I get hired permanently by the company where Hays placed me?
If the client company wants to hire you as a permanent employee, they can do so. Hays may collect a fee from the employer for the placement, but you do not pay anything. Once you are hired directly by the company, you are no longer a Hays employee.
Can I work for multiple staffing companies at the same time?
Yes. You can register with Hays and other staffing firms simultaneously. However, if you accept a temporary role from one company, you cannot take another job during that assignment without permission. Once that role ends, you are free to work with any staffing company or pursue other opportunities.
What should I do if I have a problem at the job site?
Contact your Hays recruiter or branch consultant. They can address concerns with the employer, move you to a different assignment, or help resolve disputes. Hays has an interest in keeping you and the employer satisfied, so they usually respond to problems fairly quickly.