Temp-to-hire is a popular hiring strategy that many companies are turning to. It lowers their overhead costs and allows them to try out candidates before hiring them on permanent.
Working as a temp can also be a great way to sample different industries and find a place that really works for you. If you find yourself in a temp-to-hire position at a place where you’d like to become permanent, here are three ways to make that happen.
Be a Specialist
As a temp worker, you’re a generalist by default, which is good when you’re playing the field to discover what field you want to commit to. But once you find that field, it’s important to shift to a specialist mindset.
That means diving into the skills required to do your temporary job permanently. They have hired you to do general tasks, but more often than not, those general tasks are a real-world job rehearsal.
Managers may ask themselves: is this person just here to do a job and move on, or are they looking to see how they can truly fit in around here? To convey that, always be looking for that missing role they’re looking to fill.
For example, do you notice that the meeting rooms are always double-booked? Become the de facto Office Coordinator who smooths that process out with a digital calendar.
Be a Fast Learner
Learning to learn is a skill in itself. Once you’ve identified the area of expertise lacking in your company and decided to specialize in it, it’s important to break down each skill.
Here’s one method you can try:
- Know your learning style. Are you a hands-on learner? An auditory learner? To learn fast, you have to know your learning style.
- Set clear goals. Breakdown each skill and place them in the best order to learn them. You want them to build on one another.
- Focus on one skill at a time. Take the time to master each skill before adding a new to your repertoire.
Be a Team Player
By taking on challenging tasks when they arise, you show that you’re there to help the team and not just there to stick to your assigned duties until someone politely asks you for help.
It shows initiative. That’s a key ingredient to being a team player. Keeping your head down and getting your work done is one part of a solid work ethic. But you also have to take the time to look up and see who needs help, what gaps aren’t being filled, what can be done better.
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