When college student Brittany Brooks applied for a job at a local store, they told her they were only hiring seasonal help and she would probably be let go after the new year. She decided to go for it anyway.
"I needed the money and I just wanted to have the experience of saying yes, I have had a job," Brooks said.?
But Brooks impressed her boss, and her holiday job turned permanent, something that experts say is a fast-growing trend.
"About 49 percent of the employers that we talked to plan on hiring these part-time seasonal workers into full-time positions. So this is a great opportunity to showcase your skills," said Brent Rasmussen, president of careerbuilder.com.
Rasmussen says these seasonal jobs can provide not only an immediate paycheck but also a foot in the door.
"You should view it as an extended job interview. This is an opportunity for the company to get to know you, for you to know the company, to show them what you bring to their organization and to show how you can become a valuable asset," Rasmussen said.?
And its not just retail, either. Rasmussen says companies in a variety of fields are test-driving ?temporary employees before hiring them for good.
"Hospitality and leisure, IT, and finance and accounting are doing that in 2013," Rasmussen said.?
So how do you score a permanent position? Dawn Fay, a member of the American Staffing Association, says the first you need to treat the job as if it's already yours.
"Don't treat it like a temporary job that maybe isn't as important to you. You know, a lot of times if people are on a temporary assignment, they'll not show up on time, they won't take extra initiative," Fay said.?
Some other ways to put your best foot forward? Ask for extra assignments; make an effort to get to know your coworkers by attending social and professional functions; and ask for regular feedback of your performance and how you can improve.
Experts say it's also important to be flexible with your time when it comes to seasonal work. Full-time employees usually get first dibs on the best schedule meaning you might end up working odd hours or even the holidays themselves.
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