Personal Advancement
Advice for employees seeking to make the switchFrom temporary to full-time workThe great contributions of the staffing services industry, and its hundreds of thousands of employees, to the Canadian economy is being celebrated from June 4 to 8 during Staffing for Canada Week. |
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 [ 2007-06-06 ] |
Acsess
More and more workers within that industry, however, have something additional to celebrate: a growing number of them are able to turn temporary or contract work gained through staffing firms into meaningful permanent positions.
A 2005 survey by the Association of Canadian Search, Employment and Staffing Services (ACSESS), the voice of Canada's employment, recruitment and staffing services industry with more than 1,000 members, found that the quantity of its contractors hired on full time rose from 24% to 27% between 2004 and 2005, and according to Chris Roach, ACSESS president, that number is continuing to rise.
"For job candidates starting in a temporary position, this is the ultimate job interview, the chance for them to really show what they're all about and to make a real impact on an organization," says Roach, who's also partner in Cadre, a Toronto- and Calgary-based staffing company for engineers, IT professionals and skilled tradespeople. "High performers who can demonstrate to corporations their competencies and skill sets may be able to transition from a temporary or contract job into a full-time position."
For those seeking make the switch to full time, Roach offers the following advice.
BE PROFESSIONAL
"If you want to make an impression on an organization, you have to be professional, which means being punctual, dressing appropriately and communicating properly with your peers," Roach says.
He adds that part of being professional involves understanding your organization's workplace culture, so you know how to fit in.
FOCUS ON WHAT COUNTS
Focusing mainly on your job requirements -- and not on impressing your supervisor or socializing too much with peers -- is your best bet to getting your other foot in the door, Roach says.
"You need to focus on you job responsibilities, and if you're working for a good manager, they will see your strengths and the rest will take care of itself," he says.
STAY IN TOUCH
It's important to communicate sufficiently with your supervisor to keep them abreast of your job progress, Roach says.
Also, he adds, stay in touch with your recruiter, as he or she has background knowledge on your employer that may help you land permanent work with the company.
GO ABOVE AND BEYOND
As you acclimatize to your role within your organization and build your rapport with your supervisor, Roach says, you may want to demonstrate your initiative by taking on extra responsibilities.
"I think it can be a good thing to make yourself available to volunteer and do other things outside the scope of your original responsibilities," he says.
BUILD YOUR PEER NETWORK
Building positive, productive relationships with your peers will give you get a better sense of the corporate culture and help you better integrate into the company, Roach says.
"Communicating well with peers, being a good team player and having a constructive attitude are critical to helping you ease into and do well in your role," Roach says.
BE PATIENT
If you've taken a position that doesn't really suit your interests or make full use of your abilities, be patient, Roach says: If you do your best in the job you've accepted, within time, you may be able to move up within your organization.
"If you're doing, or if, for example, you're a foreign-trained professional in a job below your level of qualification, you need to prove yourself in your current position to get ahead," Roach says. "If you do a good job, it will open doors to other opportunities within the organization."
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