Many people work a part-time job during the holiday season to bring in extra income. What they may not realize is that seasonal jobs can lead to permanent employment. The keys to successfully transitioning from seasonal employee to permanent employee could be as easy as:
- Expressing yourself - no one will know that you are open to permanent employment if you don't say so. If the right time does not present itself during your interview, let your immediate supervisor know once you start work. Also, check the company's website daily to see if new opportunities are posted. If so, speak to your supervisor and apply via the company's application process. Make sure that your resume is update with your seasonal position;
- Showing it - show genuine enthusiasm for the work that you are doing. Provide quality customer service to both you internal customers (co-workers, vendors, etc.) and your external customers (shoppers, clients, etc.). Ask about procedures that you are not familiar with and familiarize yourself with the steps that are involved;
- Being a team player - offer to help your supervisor with extra duties when you have a little extra time. If you see how a task could be completed more easily by slightly changing a process, make the suggestion. Also, do not say negative things to co-workers or customers about the company's procedures, management, work equipment, etc.Do not participate in workplace gossip. Remember, a person may not discuss what they said during a negative conversation about the company, but they will likely have no problem repeating what you had to say.;
- Not wasting company resources - keep copying to a minimum, don't talk on the telephone during half your shift, clean up messes that you cause in the break room, suggest that they recycle if they are not already;
- Being professional - If you experience conflict with a co-worker, do not get into an argument and resort to school-kid tactics of not speaking. Approach the person in a non-accusatory manner and ask them if they are willing to discuss your differences. Respect the other person's perspective, even if you do not agree with them. Try to reach a happy medium and agree to work together productively. Once the discussion is over, do not hold a grudge...move forward.
- Networking - Do not allow the assignment to end without getting contact information from co-workers. Even if an opportunity does not currently exist, as them to keep you in mind if something should become available;
Believe it or not, management will take notice and others will comment about how pleasant you are to work with. Your seasonal job could literally be your foot in the door. You will also have advantage over your competition because management will already have solid work performance on you, so take this opportunity to shine and walk into your next permanent opportunity.
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