The holiday season is behind us. And many of you may have taken up short-term, or temporary roles in this holiday season. Whether you were working in it as a side hustle, a filler during your career break or to add experience, these types of roles can offer much more than just extra income. One benefit is to leverage this experience into a full-time job.

If you are looking for ways to convert your short-term seasonal employment to a permanent or contractual full-time opportunity, here are few tips on how:

Exhibit commitment 

According to the guide ‘Employee Engagement and Commitment: A Guide to Understanding, Measuring and Increasing Engagement in your Organization’, employees who are engaged in their work and committed to their organizations give companies a crucial competitive advantage — including higher productivity and lower employee turnover.

Business leaders are looking for employees who have a high level of commitment to their work. Even though your seasonal job may seem to be a limited opportunity, displaying commitment can go a long way for you. Commitment is a highly valued virtue and employers are more likely to promote employees who take their role seriously. Being punctual, reliable, and demonstrating a positive attitude can make you a strong candidate for potential opportunities to any employer. Building trust and showing your employer that you are dedicated and serious about your work will amplify your chances to get noticed. Even though an employer may not have something to offer immediately, they are likely to think about you if they have a suitable job opening in future.  

Be proactive

You may feel being over-committed to a temporary job is pointless. However, research indicates that being proactive at work adds meaningfulness to work. You are likely to be more focused and inclined to learn new skills while on job.

Make sure you take initiative, contribute to your team and try to make a difference. Going an extra mile by looking for ways to contribute more through suggestions for improvements or taking up additional tasks not only helps to showcase your capabilities, but also gets you noticed.  

Prioritize networking

A temporary seasonal role is  a great opportunity to network, especially if you are eyeing a career in the same sector. Did you know - 85% of jobs are filled by networking and professional connections? When working in a seasonal role, build relationships with your colleagues and supervisors. Ask to attend company events or social gatherings so you can get to know people from different departments and build a solid network. Be intentional about the relationships you build.

One great tip on networking is to think how you can be useful to your network versus how they can help you. This way you take charge and begin building a relationship as opposed to waiting. Networking can help you gain visibility within the organization and increase your chances of being considered for a full-time position.

Be intentional

Most temporary or contractual positions will involve you working with a supervisor or a team lead. They will be the people who will train you for the position and you will be directly reporting to them. In course of your hiring process or during your work, express your intention explicitly to turn the role to a permanent position.

Let your supervisor or HR department know that you are interested in a full-time role at the organization.  Show your enthusiasm for the company and your willingness to continue working beyond the seasonal period. This will ensure that you are on their radar when full-time opportunities arise.

Add skills & work experience to your resume

Seasonal employment is still a job and you can definitely add it to your resume, especially if it is going to add value to your future career. Most common types of seasonal jobs include customer service, sales associate, cashier, administration etc. During the course of your employment it is likely that you may have learnt new skills or now have a 'on-the-job experience' to show for some skills. Add those valuable skills on your resume. Some examples of skills acquired in seasonal work may include: 

• Working in fast-paced environment
• Multitasking
• Communication skills
• Fast learner/agile
• Customer service
• Team player
• Working independently

If you earned special recognition for your work or accolades, mention them to your resume as well, especially if they align with the requirements of a full-time position within the company or your future career path. Also add these skills and experience in your LinkedIn  profile and to any jobs boards you are registered on.

Stay informed

It is a good practice to regularly check new jobs within the company. You can also subscribe to their job alerts. Even after your contract gets over, regularly check if they have a full-time role that aligns with your skills. Reach out to your supervisor or manager if you see something that you may be a great fit for. Prepare a short elevator pitch perhaps when to let them know how you are a good fit for a role. 

One great thing about reaching out to someone you have already worked with is that, you have an insider advantage. They already know you and your working style. Improve your chances by asking for a referral from your former manager or supervisor. They are the best advocates for your professional skills and competencies.  

Build solid references

One of the key struggles for new Canadians or recent graduates is getting a reference. In our blog about building references, we have talked about how to build yourself references that can vouch for your skills and abilities and highlight your true potential. Having a reference who are not family or friends is gold.

Even if you are not aiming for a permanent role with your short term or seasonal employer, you can make a lasting impression with your work and commitment to earn good reviews and secure a few references. Short term employer/manager or supervisor are an excellent choices for getting your first referrals in the professional circle. 

Consider similar employers

If your seasonal employment does not secure you a fulltime role, expand your horizons and look out for industries working in similar sectors. Without breaking any confidentiality agreements, leveraging your experience at Company A means you are a great hire for Company B as you already know the role and to a degree, the business. Brush up on some of your existing skills or learn some new. As your seasonal employment ends or slows down over the holidays, start planning for full-time employment in 2025.

For more nearly 50 years, Agilus has served our candidate and employer networks, connecting job seekers with meaningful opportunities. We place nearly 10,000 job seekers in roles every year in Engineering, Technology, Professional/Office, and Light Industrial roles. Check out or open roles on our job board, create a job alert or build a profile so any of our more than 100 recruitment professionals can find you quickly when a role becomes available. Please follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for job seeking tips and new roles.