Turning Your Temporary Gig into a Full-Time Position

03 Aug Turning Your Temporary Gig into a Full-Time Position

Maybe the last time you looked for a job, you weren’t interested in finding something long-term. For whatever reason, a temporary job was just the ticket: Something that would last for a few months, would bring in some money and can help pad your resume until you figure out what you’d really like to do. 

But now, several months later, you like your coworkers, you enjoy the office environment and, maybe most surprisingly, you really like the work you’re doing. You start to wonder: Is it possible to make this temporary job permanent? 

Good news: Yes, it’s possible! Unless you’re filling in for someone out for a predetermined amount of time (like maternal or paternal leave), the company you’re currently working with might be open to hiring you permanently. 

So how do you make that happen?

Be a great colleague.

Come in with a “can do!” attitude, eager to work with everyone and anyone. Never complain that something isn’t your job. If you’re not sure how to do something, ask, take notes, and say thank you. A positive personality and good outlook can do wonders. Showing that you’re only there for the paycheck and aren’t invested in learning won’t help at all, showing that you’re eager to learn and happy to be there can move mountains. 

Learn about the industry, including trends, and this company’s role in it.

Do some research, pay attention to any meetings you attend, take notes, and make observations. If you see something on social media about a competitor or the industry in general, and you think it might be of interest to your manager, send an email with a link and a few sentences explaining why it caught your attention. Demonstrate that you’re paying attention and want to apply what you’ve learned.

Build relationships.

Talk to the people you’re working with about their backgrounds, work history, and skills. Add them to your LinkedIn page and network with them. Learn people’s names and use them professionally and to the level with which it seems comfortable and appropriate. 

Treat every day as a job interview.

If you want to be a permanent part of the team, act like you want to be there. Be prepared, be on time, dress professionally, be polite, make your deadlines. Keep proving your worth and show what you can add to the office. 

Ask.

Should the opportunity present itself naturally through the course of the conversation, ask whether there’s any possibility of this position becoming permanent. There’s a chance you might not get the answer you want — that the company only needs help to get through a project or that the absence will only be a short-term one — but let your manager or supervisor know you’re interested in joining the team. It can’t hurt for them to know! 

There’s at least one big benefit for companies to decide to hire a temporary employee permanently: There’s a shorter learning curve, and they already know how the person will fit into the organization and team. Even if it takes a while, it’s possible to turn a temporary position into your new career. 

Explore temporary work with LeadingEdge Personnel

If you’re ready to explore your options in temporary work, or if you’d like more advice on how to be a great employee, contact LeadingEdge. We work with some of the top companies in the field and know what they’re looking for in new employees. Contact us today, and let’s get to work.