Turning the Snack Into a Feast: The Seasonal to Full-Time Transition

Jennifer Fry
Careerminds Consultant

This weekend marks the official beginning of the holiday shopping season, and with the onslaught of shoppers crowding the stores and shopping malls, retailers are quickly filling up temporary, seasonal positions. That’s good news for those of you in career transition looking to make some money for the holidays, but what happens after the season is over? You keep the job, if you’ve gone about it the right way.

Last year, 49% of temporary employees were expected to remain employed after the holiday season was over, so if you’re one of the many seasonal employees just getting started in a position this year, there are a few things to keep in mind that will help you make the most of your seasonal experience, and hopefully turn this employment “snack” into a full-time “feast.”

1. First, be up front about your intentions from the very beginning of the process. During your interview or even on your application, indicate that you’d be interested in continuing to work even after the holidays are over. This will immediately indicate to your employer that you are highly motivated and willing to work hard, and that you’d like to be considered for any regular employment opportunities that arise. Just don’t be demanding about it– you’re just letting them know.
2. Once you’re hired as a seasonal employee, work as if you already are a regular, full-time employee. Show your manager that you’re dedicated to the job by displaying proactive behavior and impressive work ethic– ask for additional tasks, go above and beyond expectations, and keep productivity up at all times. When it comes to keeping seasonal employees on once January rolls around, employers will be looking for those who will continue to put forth their best, not those whose efforts dwindle when the temporary stint starts to wind down.
3. Show that you care about the company, the customers and your co-workers. Regular employees are not just there to make a few extra bucks during the holidays, they are committed to the company year-round. Practice excellent customer service to keep customers coming back even after the season has ended, and your manager may be tempted to keep you coming back, as well. Another way to show your dedication to the company and the position is to network with your co-workers and managers; develop a good rapport and create positive professional relationships at work to further set you apart from your seasonal co-workers.
4. Lastly, continue to make your interest in full-time work apparent. Express your goals to your manager and those in other departments so that everyone is on the same page. Again, the point is not to be pushy, just to make it clear to all those concerned that you’re willing and able to stick around.

By displaying admirable work ethic, flexibility and enthusiasm, you will be able to set yourself apart from your fellow temporary employees, and remain foremost in your manager’s mind when the time comes to promote seasonal workers into full-time positions. If your job search is still on-going, a seasonal job may turn out to be just what you’ve been waiting for.

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Careerminds provides scalable, strategic solutions to organizations seeking affordable, web-based outplacement services. Using a Web 2.0 e-learning platform that delivers affordable, online career transition services, Careerminds provides a high-tech and high-touch blend of on-demand career transition education supported by senior-level career consultants to help displaced workers reenter the workforce quickly.