How to Get Hired if You’re a Temp or Contractor
I was having lunch with some friends the other day. One of the people sitting around the table was the girlfriend of a friend. She is working at our company as a temp and, since I’ve been there the longest, she asked me what she could do to ensure that she was hired. I had to think about that question a bit, and since I figured there might be others out there who have the same question (but for a different company), here are my thoughts on the subject:
- Get to Know Everyone You Can: Even if you have a very narrow skill set and figure there is only one area in the entire company that will ever hire you, and even if that’s true, networking is still critical for a number of reasons.
First, employees mix and mingle all the time. People in one department are friends with people in others. Managers in one division discuss things with managers in other divisions. The more people you know and are friendly with, the more likely your name will come up in a positive way when people are talking about job openings and candidates. This can only help you get hired.
The more people you know, the more warning you may get about job openings within the company.
Networking can also help you in terms of making you more effective at your job. For example, if your boss asks for 15 copies of a document and the copier runs out of paper, knowing “Fred in Facilities” who re-stocks the paper can be the difference between coming through in a pinch and having to apologize for failure.
- Demonstrate a Strong Work Ethic: This is something that, in my experience, seems to be getting rarer and rarer. Young people, especially, seem to treat a job as an entitlement, acting as though the company should be happy they even bother to show up. This is not a good way to get hired. A good way to get hired is to consistently arrive at work on time, ready to dig into your tasks, and being ready and willing to help others. If you’ve run out of things to do, don’t sit there. Ask a co-worker if you can help them with something. Ask a manager for more work. Nothing will turn a potential employer off more than finding you sitting at your desk surfing the web, reading a magazine, or otherwise looking like you’ve goofing off.
- Become Indispensable: If there is a particular task in your work area that people have trouble doing, don’t like doing, never have time to do, or simply “can’t” do, this is an opportunity for you. If you can, volunteer to take on the task. Learn how to do it, and do it well. Your manager will appreciate that the job is getting done, and your co-workers will be glad they didn’t have to do it. They won’t want to let you get away from them, and they’ll all probably try to help get you hired. The more of a difference you make (for the better), the more likely you will be hired if an opportunity arises.
- Be Flexible: One thing that turns off employers and potential employers is someone who flies out the door when quitting time arrives. If your situation allows it, check with your boss or co-workers on your way out the door to see if they can use a hand with something. Staying late (especially if there’s no overtime or pay involved), even just a few minutes, to help a co-worker will go a long way toward building your reputation as a team player and hard worker. If you absolutely have to leave right when quitting time arrives, make sure (in a subtle way) that people know you have a good reason (e.g., have to pick up your child from day care, have a second job, a sick parent, etc.).
- Be Conscious of the Image You Project: At all times, you should be thinking about the image you are giving others, the impressions you’re making, and the way others are reacting to you. Ideally, people should see you as professional, respectful, courteous, friendly, hard-working, willing to help, and someone who takes pride in their work. While a collection of sci-fi action figures may be appropriate on the desk of a veteran employee, on the desk of a temporary employee it might be seen as “toys” or evidence that you’re goofing off during work hours. You’re better off in this situation with the bare minimum of desktop decorations – photos of family and friends, a spouse or significant other, etc. Since you also don’t know what political, religious, or ethnic backgrounds your co-workers are, it’s best to keep those kinds of decorations and discussions out of the office as much as you can.
If you can follow the above recommendations, there is a good chance you will eventually find yourself hired – if there is any chance to be hired at the company. If not, you should at least receive a glowing review at your temporary agency, which will help you get placed at another company where the right opportunity may come along.