Temp to Perm Employment Survival Tips

Did you get hired for a temp to perm job? Congratulations! Our clients often choose a temp to perm contract to be certain they get a good fit employee, both in skills and as part of their team.

So, now you have 90 days in a new work environment to make or break your reputation as a great employee. No pressure, eh? Now, let’s concentrate on how you can make that “perm” decision happen. Let’s talk about expectations, your own and our client at the workplace.

Use Your Eyes and Ears
Notice how your coworkers interact with their supervisor. Is the culture very formal or laidback and casual? A huge part of integrating into your new work environment is showing that you're a good fit.

Notice the people who do their job well, the top workers. They’re the ones who always seem to come through with things that needed to be done. Learn from these people. Watch what they do.

Listen as the workflow is explained to you. Notice how it is accomplished. Does everyone chip in and get the job done or is there a fairly rigid division of job duties? Observe the company culture.

Ask how breaks and lunches taken and where. Is it staggered? Does everyone wait to be told, is there a definite schedule or do the supervisors expect you to fit this into your own downtime? Just so you know, this is the latest (as of this blog date) official info on breaks from TWC, the Texas Workforce Commission:

“Breaks - although some states require breaks, Texas and most other states do not - federal law has no break requirement, other than OSHA rules about restroom breaks for sanitation … most companies do allow some sort of breaks, however, in their policies.

Breast-pumping / nursing breaks - these are unpaid breaks … requires employers to give non-exempt nursing mothers reasonable break times to express breast milk, or if children are allowed in the office, nurse their infants, during the first year after the baby's birth ….

"Coffee breaks" (rest breaks) are paid, since they are regarded as promoting productivity and efficiency on the part of employees and thus benefit the employer - 20 minutes or less in duration.

"Smoking breaks" - smoking breaks are not required under Texas or federal law, are in the same category as rest breaks (see above), and may be controlled in any way with appropriate policies.

"Lunch breaks" are unpaid - defined as 30 minutes or longer for the purpose of eating a meal - employee must be "fully relieved of duties" during the meal break - if employee is answering phones, filing, or otherwise working while eating, the "break" is counted as regular work time.”

Employers in Texas must follow also the federal rules. In other words, although breaks are not required, employers must pay employees for time they spend working and for shorter breaks during the day. An employer that chooses to provide a longer meal break, during which the employee is relieved of all job duties, does not have to pay the employee for that time.

Please notify your staffing representative if you have any questions about the way breaks/lunches are handled at your job.

Manage Your Expectations

Look, listen and learn. Suggest ideas, but don’t get carried away. Establish your credibility first. They will be better received after you have been working on the job for a while and have a good track record. 

Everyone wants an employee who will do their job right. Let them know you want constructive criticism. Then when you get it, thank them. Consider it valuable feedback and areas to improve before your perm review comes around.

Quickly learn your new work area/office. Show that you're savvy and resourceful for figuring out where the basic things are. Know who you are interacting with when someone introduces themselves from administration. Find out if there is a company directory you can look at. Or, before your first day, do online research to know the company structure where you will work at.

Be Upfront about Your Expertise

The whole problem with fake-it-until-you-make-it false confidence is the tasks you are given to do will be harder than you can handle. A better idea would be to let your supervisors take your learning curve into consideration and tag you as a fast learner.

Show Energy

Energy translates as enthusiasm for your job and every boss/supervisor will appreciate seeing it. A good employee can motivate and regenerate the entire team. Remember to smile through all the uncertainties, the adjustments, the learning curves and the confusion.

Build positive relationships with everyone in the workplace. Be friendly to everyone. Ask how their day is going. Find some common interests and talk about them. Network often but avoid gossip. You're too new to get involved with office politics or a petty tug of war that might end badly for you. Focus on proving your energy, expertise, and congeniality during these first ninety day.

Be There or Be Square

Supervisors want to keep employees that are reliable and who they can count on to come to work, be on time, and will complete assigned tasks. During your temp to perm job, our client is looking strongly at attendance and promptness.

If you've been warned about lateness or attendance at work, treat the complaint seriously.

Realize that Going Permanent is a Win-Win-Win for Everyone

 It’s a win for you, obviously. It’s a win for our client because they are able to hire someone they know and trust and have seen in action.

It will be worth all your sincere effort when your temp agency calls to say “Congratulations! They want you to start the perming process today!”  We love those words.