How to Turn Holiday Jobs Into a Career
Holiday jobs are usually temporary assignments that finish at the end of the holiday period. But don't be discouraged there are ways of turning seasonal jobs into permanent positions. You can prove your value to the company in the short period you are with them and make them see your long term potential. Follow these tips to ensure that you have a good chance of converting your holiday employment into something permanent.
Be 100% reliable and dependable
Make sure you work all the hours you have agreed to and more. Arrive early and leave late. Most temporary employees tend to be clock watchers, show the employer that you are willing to go the extra mile and work hard. Confirm that the time you take your lunch break is convenient and be back with time to spare. Let your employer know that you are available to work when and where needed - be as flexible as possible with your scheduling. In retail it is not uncommon for employees to miss their shift, be the first one the manager calls to fill in.
Look the part
Make sure you dress according to the company culture and you appear well groomed and neat. Pay attention to all aspects from your hair to your shoes. If you wear a uniform make sure it is clean and pressed, even if it means washing and ironing at night!
Volunteer for extra tasks and duties
Show that you are not just there to work the bare minimum and make some holiday cash but that you are a committed and enthusiastic worker. Prove your value and versatility by going above and beyond what is asked of you. Be the first to volunteer for extra work. Pay close attention to everything and be prepared to learn new tasks. Be proactive about developing new skills and gaining valuable knowledge.
Have a positive attitude
Show confidence, enthusiasm and a strong work ethic. Be a problem-solver rather than the employee who moans and finds fault. Show that you are self motivated and proactive. Take care of problems and deal with issues as they arise. Speak up if you have a good idea. Don't miss an opportunity to show your ability to take the initiative.
Avoid office gossip
Avoid spending time gossiping with colleagues, especially about other workers, the managers and the company. This is always noticed by employers and is not what they want from future employees. Be friendly but keep your discussions positive and work-related as much as possible.
Display calmness under pressure
Demonstrate a cool head in busy and stressful situations. Try not to panic if you start to feel overloaded, just keep working steadily through it all. This will help you stand out from other holiday employees as a professional and calm employee.
Network within the company
Make sure you introduce yourself to all the managers and let them know you are interested in a permanent job. Once you have proven yourself ask them who you should talk to about putting in an application - human resources, management etc. The employer might naturally assume you intend to leave after the holidays if you don't indicate otherwise. Avoid waiting till the last minute to enquire about permanent jobs. You want the employer to consider you as a potential permanent staff member while you are still working there.
If you can't get hired at that point, stay in touch to take advantage of any opportunities that may come up later. Writing your holiday job employer a thank-you note is a good way of staying in the picture.
Focus on being a flexible, enthusiastic and hard working worker and turn holiday jobs into a permanent career move.
For a complete guide to getting customer service and retail jobs go to The Customer Service Job Interview.
About the Author:
Julia Penny has many years experience interviewing and placing candidates across a wide range of jobs. She offers her expertise to help job seekers prepare for and succeed in job interviews at her free website Best Job Interview