Did that.
Temping, crap jobs, crap pay, but took on anything. After 6 months I got offered better ones, and after a year took my pick of what came in. The trick was to register at lots of agencies and then as soon as I got a job at one (3 days £3.50 an hour, this was before the minimum wage) agreed to do it, did it as well as I could even though it really was horrid, and then go in in person to hand in my timesheet. I never posted them unless I was on a long term job, I made sure I was there in person every week and that they knew who I was, and I talked to them respectfully as colleagues. I stuck with the first agency that gave me a job and even though I didn't have transport made sure they knew I was available on a next day basis. (did do other work, but only if none at my first, and my first choice had priority)

Good luck, it's not pleasant. One week I only made £35.

After a couple of years of this I landed my first supply teaching job and since then have been full time employed.
( Occulus Swallowed, instead of spat, on, Fri 3 Apr 2009, 17:08, Reply)