An increasing amount of people who are looking for jobs are turning to temp agencies, from young entry-level workers to professionals with decades of experience. NY1's Tara Lynn Wagner filed the following report.

Gloria Durham worked in human resources for the last 24 years, and in the same company for the last 16 years, but her career came to a screeching halt.

"Well, the company started going through a number of reorganizations so I was downsized after those number of years," says Durham. "And you know, I'm still trying to keep myself afloat as most people are right now too."

As part of her job search, Durham interviewed with the TemPositions Group of Companies.

TemPositions CEO James Essey says many of the applicants visiting his staffing firm share a similar story.

"We're seeing people who've been in companies for years in a particular role who are coming in now looking for a new assignment," he says.

According to Essey, companies are looking for workers, he says, despite continued job cuts. In some cases, the job cuts themselves have left them in need of assistance.

"Some companies cut so deep that now they are having trouble getting the work done and they are looking for staff who can come in and help them through this period of time," says Essey.

He says companies that are overwhelmed with resumes are using staffing firms as a form of outsourcing - a way to find screened, qualified individuals to do everything from sort the mail to manage the books.

Essey says it's important for those looking to enter the pool to keep an open mind.

"If you worked in financial services, those skills are transferable in an administrative capacity to other industries as well, so be broad-minded when you come in and say you know what," says Essey. "Maybe I'll use this opportunity now to see if I'd like working in entertainment, or like working in publishing."

Rather than view temp work as a stop-gap measure - a way to pay the bills while you look for full-time work - Essey advises applicants to see the two pursuits as means toward the same end.

"Go in, sell yourself, do 110 percent of the job while you are there and look for full-time opportunities that will probably be coming down the pike in those companies," says Essey.

"That is my hope," says Durham. "If an opportunity does work out, where I could switch over from a temporary position to a permanent, then I will follow through with that."

"There are some that I know who worked for large corporations that are dealing with retail jobs or either part-time jobs, but if you can go after a temp agency, a reputable temp agency, it might be the best thing for you to do," she continues.

For Durham, a decent temp agency can lead to a permanent answer to her employment woes.