Many companies bring on additional workers around this time of year. Amazon alone hired about 120,000 temporary workers this holiday season. Temporary holiday gigs are a great way to earn a little extra money. But, what if you find yourself wishing that you could turn your temp job into a full-time job?
It’s definitely something that can happen — and there are some things you can do to increase your odds of getting hired full-time.
1. Get Your Foot in the Door
One real advantage to finding a job around the holidays is that it can be a little easier to get your foot in the door than it would be at another time of year. One man claims to have found himself working at Target just because he wore the right clothes. (Sort of.) So, if you’re looking for a new job, the holidays aren’t a time to waste. Get out there and find employment early in the season, before Black Friday, when a lot of companies are hiring.
2. Treat It Like a Full-Time Job From the Beginning
No matter what you’re hired to do, do it to the best of your ability from day one. Even if you aren’t hired on a full-time basis, you might want to come back to work at the same place next holiday season. So, show your employer what you’re made of right from the beginning.
“We look forward to welcoming back holiday employees who return year-after-year to Amazon and welcome new faces to the team, many of whom will continue on with regular, full-time roles with the company after the holidays,” said Dave Clark, Amazon’s senior vice president of global customer fulfillment, in statement earlier this season.
3. Be Outstanding
If you want to get your employer’s attention and be considered for a full-time job, you need to stand out during the holiday craziness. Be as flexible as possible about the work and the schedule. Try to have a reliably positive attitude and demonstrate that you work well with others. Go above and beyond the assigned responsibilities of your job when you see an opportunity. The more impressive you can be, the better your chances of being hired on a permanent basis.
4. Make Your Move
It’s important to keep in mind that your manager is probably very overworked and stressed during the holiday season. It might not be easy to get them to think past January until closer to the end of the season. However, when the timing feels right, you should express your interest. Ask your supervisor about any full-time positions that might be available. Talk to the human resources department about how and when to apply.
Be sure to let everyone that could help you to get hired know that you’re interested in staying with the company once the holiday season is over. Pass on copies of your resume, and a summary of your responsibilities and accomplishments since being hired.
5. Follow Up When Things Settle Down
Even if you aren’t selected to continue on with the company, it might be a good idea to follow up a little further down the road anyway. Everyone is just so busy during the holiday season. You might get a different response if you try again at a later date. After the dust has settled in January, try meeting with your employer once more to discuss your desire to work at the company full-time. You could get a different answer.
Tell Us What You Think
Have you ever turned a holiday gig into a full-time position? We want to hear from you! Leave a comment or join the discussion on Twitter.
Leave a Reply