Going permanent:
Part-time work assignments often lead to bigger, better opportunities
The pandemic opened up numerous part-time opportunities for workers across the country. Some had jobs that had little substance while others found themselves taking on demanding roles and responsibilities completely outside the scope of their abilities. Add in the instability of where and when you’ll be working, the lack of benefits, being unpaid on company holidays and overall job insecurity and you may be looking at a difficult path ahead. While temporary work has some drawbacks, it could also reap big rewards.
If you’re in the right role, a temporary situation can become a long-term opportunity. If each assignment is approached with a positive, professional attitude and strong work ethic, part-time and short-term jobs could become the foot in the door you need to land a permanent, full-time job.
Some embittered contracted employees may warn you that temporary work is a dead-end street with no chance of advancement.
While not every assignment brings a chance at a full-time gig, many companies do hire temporary workers who “go above and beyond” their assigned duties, says career expert Donna Milch Saunders. “You must differentiate yourself from the other temporary employees and treat each job like you would if you were actually a full-time employee.”
Sound difficult? It’s not. “Dress professionally, be on time, show your capabilities, ask for extra work, go the extra mile — anything to show what an outstanding professional you are and what you can do.”
Seize the opportunity
As a contractor, part-time or temporary employee, you have an opportunity to get a leg up on the competition for a permanent job.
According to career consultant Janice Lovell, even though an assignment may last only a few weeks, there’s still plenty of time to learn as much as possible about the business and establish relationships with co-workers and managers.
“I believe temporary jobs are an untapped resource for those looking for full-time work in their areas of interest,” Lovell says. “You not only receive invaluable networking contacts, but you also learn more about the particular industry and experiences you may not get otherwise.”
Some job assignments sometimes involve tedious work, such as basic coding, data entry, making repetitive phone calls or responding to emails. While these tasks may seem effortless and unrewarding, they are still work that must be done. Rather than lamenting each job, offer to pitch in with other, more demanding duties when you have time.
“Always try to exceed expectations in an assignment because the vast majority of employees do only the bare minimum,” says Kevin Donlin, author of “51 Ways to Find a Job – Guaranteed!” (Guaranteed Resumes, $14.95). “If the boss asks you to code a box full of reports in eight hours, try to do it in six. If he or she asks you to find three online sources of information, find five instead.”
Positive attitude pays
If there’s one thing sure to shoot down your chance of advancing from temp to full time, it’s a negative attitude.
“Employers can train you to run software or operate a machine, but they can’t train you to be genuinely friendly, show up on time or meet deadlines. If you work hard and have a good attitude, smart employers will create a full-time job for you,” says Donlin.
That also means downgrading your ego. If you think you’re too good for temporary work, you’ll derail any chance of advancement. “It’s not about you, it’s about something bigger than you,” Lovell says.
“It’s an attitude of contribution. How can I best serve today? How can I help you? What can I contribute? You have to take the ‘you’ out of the picture.”
Business managers may see numerous contractors or temporary workers come and go over time, so it’s key to make yourself stand out amongst the pack. Consider following up with a thank-you note, and leave your resume and contact information in case a permanent job opens up.
“Write and mail a thank-you note to every manager after every assignment,” Donlin suggests. “You’ll impress and jump to the front of the line should that manager look to hire someone. And many companies hiring temp workers ultimately give them a tryout to see if they’d be a good fit for a permanent role. If you mail a thank-you note to the boss after a temp project, you’ll take a huge leap toward getting that full-time job.”