How to Go from Temporary Worker to Full-time Hire

Did you recently accept a temporary or contract position?  Congratulations!  This past year has been a tough time for many job seekers.  Temporary work, though overlooked by many unemployed professionals, is valuable work with added benefits.  Not only does it help you gain more experience and skills, it also expands your network and adds variety to your professional life.  Plus, temporary or contract work often leads to full-time employment with the company you are temping with. 

With an attitude adjustment and some extra effort, here are three steps that will help you make your temp job into a new position with a great company:

1. Prove Value

One of the pitfalls of temporary work is that many individuals - even seasoned professionals - exhibit a defeatist attitude on the job.  Why?  It’s the word “temporary.”  It often makes employees feel like they are valued less than their company-employed coworkers.  Some professionals have remarked that they’re treated like interns.  Well, the best interns often end up with great positions when they graduate because they proved their value.

If you want to take the steps toward landing a position with the company, you have to prove your value.  Dismiss the urge to strictly “put in time” and dedicate yourself to doing the best job you can each day.  Demonstrate to your managers that you are reliable, eager to work and dedicated to delivering the best results possible.  Show them that you’re a go-to team player who’s ready to be a permanent member of the team!

2. Take Initiative

There are a lot of tasks and responsibilities that many company employees dislike.  While they’re busy grumbling, you should be busy volunteering for these tasks.  Take the initiative every chance you can to show the managers that you’re not satisfied with doing only what’s listed on your job description.  If the department is short-handed due to an unscheduled absence or needs extra coverage during the holiday season, inform your manager that you’re ready to lend a hand and take on extra responsibilities.  It may mean working in other departments where you have less experience, but these opportunities to take initiative demonstrate that you are someone who deserves to be a part of the company. 

3. Let Them Know

Managers and supervisors have their hands full running their departments.  You would think that showing your value and taking initiative would be clear signs that you want to join the team; however, managers can sometimes miss the bigger picture.  Let your staffing agency (Elite!) know that you would be interested in the position on more than a temporary basis.  They will be happy to share that information with their client and will offer to assist the transition.  Even if you’re told that the company is in a hiring freeze or unable to hire until the next budget has been approved, you’ve planted the seeds for a full-time position when the opportunity arises.   

There is no reason you need to go to work every day with the word “temporary” on your mind.  Start thinking “great job” and make yourself an invaluable asset that the organization can’t let go!  When you need help finding the right position that fits your skills, reach out to Elite Personnel.  We place candidates each day in Temporary, Contract and Direct Hire jobs throughout the DC metro area.  Let us help you find the next potential full-time job for your resume!