Agency

I've used them in the past but not recently. If he can afford to wait a bit, he is probably right that it is better to hold out for a direct job with a higher salary than to get locked into a lower-paying position, however, on the rare occasions that I was between jobs even for a few days I always signed up with agencies that specialized in both temporary and permanent placement. In almost all cases the employers offered to buy out my contract, so from past experience I would rate temporary agencies as an excellent way to get a position. When looking to hire someone I have also used temp agencies as a recruiting tool. As an employer I would rather pay a little more at first in exchange for an opportunity to evaluate someone's actual work habits over just looking a a resume and interview.

My roomie got her job thru one of those temp to hire agencies. they told her she'd be earning $10 an hour and that's what she got - how much they charged the company ??? who knows. But she got hired on permanate and is happy as a clam with what she got, however it took to get it.

I don't know how agencies work in US but I would think it's pretty much the same as UK. Yes, they pay less through an agency because the company has to pay the agency but if your husband needs a job then surely anything is better than nothing. Some companies take on agency staff as permanent employees and I think there may be a rule that an agency has to find you something after a certain amount of time. I think some agencies pay a "retainer" if you're with them but I'm not sure about that. Your husband could always look into it. There's no harm in gathering more information to make an infomred decision but if that's the only way he's going to get back into work, he can't afford to be fussy.