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Once you get one job, don't forget to keep calling. I made it a point to start calling 2-3 days before my current assignment was ending to let the temp folks know when I'd be available again. I'd call late in the afternoon usually, especially on the last day of the job. A lot of times this eliminated the gap between jobs, which can be painful financially.  If you've done good work (and please, do good work), let the client know that they can ask for you specifically next time if they want.

If you find you're not getting any work, make another visit to the office.  Dress as if you were interviewing again.  Ask if there are any training programs you can take, or if you didn't do as well as you'd like on one of the tests, ask if you can take it again. Usually they will let you. And, again, it gives you face time with the agency, which puts you at the head of the list, and also shows that you're really serious about getting some work that way.

When you're working, don't be surprised if the work is boring. (I once spent six weeks, 40 hours a week, pulling staples, photocopying one tax form, and re-stapling the files for a stock brokerage audit.) Be very proactive about finding work. If you're not doing anything, or if you're doing something that could easily incorporate another job (such as answering not-very-busy phones), ask if you can do something else. Don't be afraid to tell them about skills you have that they are not using (I've been hired to answer phones and wound up doing typing or light bookkeeping as well). Again, you'll make a good impression, possibly learn something new, and keep yourself busy.

Above all, don't despair!  There are some real benefits to temp work.  There's a real opportunity to experience some variety.  If you don't like the job you are totally not stuck with it (there's very little that's more freeing than thinking, "If I decide I hate this, I don't have to come back tomorrow").  And very best of all, you never have to care about office politics.

I hope this article is of help to someone considering using a temp agency as a stopgap measure or as a ticket to "real" employment.