Pros
They offer employment to individuals that have very minimal work experience. They can also directly place qualified candidates into certain positions, thereby effectively bypassing the entire interview process. You can establish a steady work record that could lead to better positions with the client company you are contracted with. You can receive on the job training and pursue skill building.
Cons
While it is a job, as an associate you have to deal with the pitfalls of being a contingent employee. 1. The pay is very low for most if not all positions compared to the permanent position. 2. The client company avoids all legal obligations and ethical obligations by having the temp agency serve as an intermediary. They don't have to offer insurance, vacations, etc. 3. There is an indefinite period of time for being considered being hired by the client company as a permanent employee, all in exchange for being over-leveraged. 4. Transparency and disclosure is very weak. The client company does not have to provide a performance evaluation. 5. Not the ideal company for an entry-level professional (such as an individual with a 4 year engineering degree).