How to Turn Your Seasonal Job Into a Permanent Position
A career expert shares insider tips with BET.com.
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Getting Extra Miles From Your Seasonal Gig - It's no secret that seasonal jobs are a great way to earn extra cash during the holidays. Seasonal positions can also bring opportunities for people, especially if that position turns into something more permanent. Rosemary Haefner, CareerBuilder.com's vice president of human resources, tells BET.com her best tips for standing out as an invaluable employee. — Britt Middleton (Photo: Getty Images/STOCK)
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The Outlook Looks Good - In a recent CareerBuilder.com survey of employers, 39 percent said they planned to transition some of their seasonal employees into full-time, permanent staff, up from 30 percent in 2011. Sixty-two percent of employers said they planned to pay seasonal workers $10 or more an hour in 2012, up from 53 percent last year. (Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
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Take It Seriously - Haefner says many employers treat seasonal positions like a long-term job interview, so it is wise to go in like it's a job you would have any other time of the year. (Photo: Getty Images/STOCK)
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Stay Engaged - "You really want to make sure that you're showing that you're involved and happy to be there and asking questions," Haefner says. "They're not complicated things to do, but people seem to forget that they really do need to show initiative even if they think this may only be a job for a month or two.” (Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
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Competition Matters - Businesses are in competition mode to drive sales, and managers are looking to you to build good relationships with customers that keep them coming back, Haefner says. Therefore, things like going the extra mile to find a sweater in a specific color for a customer help you tremendously in the long run. (Photo: REUTERS/Jim Young)
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Give Suggestions That Will Better Business - "They want individuals who are taking initiative, and they're offering to help before being asked to do it. You're where they need you before they even know they need you," she says. (Photo: Getty Images/STOCK)
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Seize the Learning Opportunity - "Understanding the products and procedures that company uses and showing that you put in the effort to learn that quickly is very significant," Haefner says, as employers view this as less job training they will have to do later. (Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
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Let Your Interest Be Known - Telling your employer that you want to keep your job after the holidays can be tricky. Start by telling them how much you enjoy the work and explain how you feel you contribute. Also, you can ask for feedback to make yourself a good fit for the company. (Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images)
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Find the Right Opportunity - Timing is everything, Haefner says. "If you're just dropping that into conversation in the middle of an extremely busy time, then you're not getting the full attention of that supervisor or manager. Make sure you're giving yourself the best shot." (Photo: Getty Images/STOCK)
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Don't Stand Out for the Wrong Reasons - Not being honest about the number of hours and days you are willing to work will come back to haunt you. "Forty percent of the employers we surveyed said this was going to be the biggest turnoff when considering people for full-time position," Haefner says. (Photo: Chris Hondros/Getty Images)
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Don’t Give Up - While many employers decrease their hiring in December, it's not too late to find last-minute openings. "A lot of organizations hire individuals and decide a week in that not everybody works out so there are still opportunities to be had," says Haefner. Websites like CareerBuilder.com, WorkinRetail.com and SnagaJob.com are just a few of the job search sites that can aid in your search. (Photo: REUTERS/George Frey)