What do you do if your temporary or contract work isn't leading to permanent opportunities?

Think of each assignment as part of a more significant journey. Strive to excel in these roles, not only to express your interest in permanent opportunities but also to build a robust network that can open doors to unforeseen possibilities. Seize the opportunity to fill any gaps in your skills, transforming yourself into a more versatile and appealing candidate for the roles you aspire to. Be bold in exploring new fields through these temporary gigs; you might find an unexpected fit. If traditional paths aren't working, consider leveraging your skills into consulting or freelancing, which can sometimes lead to permanent offers. Remember, the right opportunity could be just around the corner. Keep your goal in sight and stay adaptable.

As a consultant, sometimes the struggle is real! I am living in this situation right now - my temporary or contract work is not leading to the permanent opportunities I want. What am I doing? Networking more, sending out proposals like never before, engaging prospective clients more aggressively as a fixer/finder/solutions maker, and trying to be above the pack in terms of being the innovator a client will need. I will prevail!

Every foot print counts. Cherish what you learn from current work; talk to mentor or respected people to verify if the obstacle is from myself or really the career is no future at all. Once you are clear in mind, you can take action to move forward

Reflecting on your career aspirations is pivotal when evaluating temporary work opportunities. Assess whether you view these roles as stepping stones or destinations in themselves. Aligning your contracts with your overarching career objectives is essential; while some positions may not offer immediate permanency, they can furnish you with valuable skills and connections that enhance your employability down the line. By clarifying your motivations and long-term goals, you can navigate temporary work strategically to advance your career trajectory.

Start by taking a step back to evaluate your career objectives. Are you aiming for a permanent position in your current field, or are you open to exploring new industries? Understanding what you truly want will help you focus your efforts more efficiently. Consider: - The kind of work that excites you. - The industries or companies you admire. - Your long-term career aspirations. - How temporary positions could strategically fit into your career plan. - Your professional development plans.

After I retired from the military, I realized I would need additional skills for my next career. I completed my Masters degree and focused on one certification. This allowed me to show prospective employers that I could be versatile. It helped open additional doors for me. I was able to have three potential jobs lined up at once. It was an amazing freedom knowing that my investment in me would pay off.

Temporary roles often expose you to various tasks and work environments, providing a golden opportunity to identify and fill any skill gaps. This is also a great opportunity to step into new roles to acquire new skills, experience and build personal and professional networks. To make yourself more marketable for permanent roles: - Take note of the skills frequently mentioned in job listings you're interested in. - Invest in learning through online courses, workshops, or certifications. - Build your personal and professional assets to demonstrate your capabilities and competencies. - Look for opportunities to take on diverse assignments in your temporary roles that can broaden your experience and skill set.

As you treat each of the temp jobs that you take up as steps towards that ultimate job, you also need to pick up skills and learnings from those - all of which build towards that job.

We all have more skills than are apparent. Just because it isn't on your resume, doesn't mean you can't do it. That's a major perspective shift we all need to make as employers. Leadership is a great example: just because you have a certificate from somewhere, doesn't mean you actually make a great leader. Who really should be the judge of that? The people you lead!

Leveraging LinkedIn and other professional networking platforms is essential for building meaningful connections. In my role as CEO of Happy Camper Live, networking has not only allowed me to connect with industry leaders but also to expand our outreach and impact. Each interaction is a stepping stone towards mutual growth and opportunities. It's all about engaging actively and authentically with your network to unlock new possibilities. Keep connecting and keep growing!

The best way to find another job is to perform very well in your current job. Very few bosses want to let go of a valuable employee and will strive to create opportunities or extend contract. Even if the role is not the most ideal, they would still pursue the employee to stay on till a suitable role is found. Even if the door is shut for now for a myriad of reasons, you want to be on the top of people’s mind so you get called when the opportunity comes or be at an advantage compared to other untested candidates when you apply. So network, get involved in initiatives outside work. Put yourself out there. Remember, it’s not only who you know, but also who knows you. This will multiple your chances of landing a more permanent role.

Agree with Alison Ching comment. Perform well in current role and target network in those areas where you want to find a permanent role. Don’t jump too soon - always easier to find permanent role when actually working in a temporary role than not working. Prepare answer to Ques: why do you want a permanent role now? Be honest and convincing. Stability and comprehensive benefits in perm roles v flexibility in temp roles. Research which recruiters are handling your desired perm position. Introduce yourself and follow up with an email/ tel/video call. Speak directly to the recruiter and sell yourself why you are the right candidate to solve the problems of a prospective employer. Alternatively try the direct approach to employer.

Networking is crucial in uncovering job opportunities, many of which are never advertised. Talking to like-minded professionals in the same industries helps understand the challenges and skills gap faced by the hiring managers, and this would allow you to proactively position and differentiate yourself. To expand your professional network: - Attend industry conferences, workshops, and other events. - Join meetups and community events to meet and expand your network. - Join professional associations or online forums related to your field. - Connect with colleagues and supervisors from your temporary roles on LinkedIn, and keep in touch.

A real experience I've lived and seen in jobs is that you don't always find your stable place at the first shot. It takes a self discovery journey to arrive to your place. So if I was in a job right now that didn't offer a permanent opportunity I'd broaden my network to keep looking for more opportunities while performing my best where I am. Sometimes in order to find something better we need to let go of what we are holding to and taking a leap of faith.

Instead of applying for every available job, focus your search on roles that align with your skills, interests, and career goals. Tailor your resume and cover letter for each application to highlight how your experience and achievements make you a strong fit for the position. By doing do, you would master adaptability and resourcefulness in expanding your capabilities, competencies and proficiencies in your relevant skills for your target roles.

Once your choice of temp jobs and the building of skills are aligned to that "ultimate job", you need to constantly remind yourself of that ultimate job role that you are eyeing. Every day, with every skill that you pick up, ask yourself - are you moving towards it? Obviously, the "ultimate" dream job that you want to get into should also be aligned to your interests, your skills and what you would love to do. Once you start aligning all your learnings and skill enhancements towards this, you will definitely move towards that dream job of yours.

Assess the types of roles that are available in your sector and identify ones that have the ability to grow and develop in multiple organization types in your sector. In your job search target such roles and use LinkedIn to see the types of education and skills that people in such roles typically have. Start building your skill set accordingly.

Target permanent roles that demand the skills and experience you have developed through temporary and contract positions. Temporary and contract roles may not cover to permanent ones because of a lack of budget, so don’t take that personally. Your skills will be desired and needed elsewhere

Focus on your dream, your vision, your passions. Don't take a job just because it's available to you. That only confuses your brain and misaligns your actions with the results you are after. Be intentional about who you want to become in the future and only take on roles or positions that are aligned with that future vision you have for yourself.

Consider seeking advice from a career counselor or advisor who can provide guidance and support in navigating your career path. They may offer valuable insights and strategies for advancing your career, whether within your current organization or elsewhere.

Feedback is key and without feedback you will not know your true azimuth. Feedback gives you the opportunity to correct your outcome and increase your opportunities towards your goals.

If you're not making headway, seek feedback to understand why. This is important as you would be able to identify areas where you were blindsighted, or may have neglected, or even an undesirable habit may have hindered you. This can come from: - Hiring managers or interviewers for roles you didn't secure. - Colleagues or supervisors in your temporary positions. - Professional mentors or career coaches. Constructive criticism can provide valuable insights into areas for improvement, whether it's enhancing your interview skills, refining your resume, or identifying skill gaps. A positive attitude will benefit you to improve and get yourself ready for your next role.

Get feedback on your performance and ask for testimonials to share publicly on LinkedIn and other social media, to increase your public profile and people’s awareness of you

Persistent behaviour is very important when we face such a situation...... Personal experience. The time lines of getting a permanent job won't match our personal deadline settings but we really have to patiently hunt for jobs, apply, give interviews and stay positive. Our prayers are answered in unique ways. Believe me!

Persistence requires self-discipline, controlling impulsesin order for us to stay focused on our goals without giving up in times of frustration or fatigue. We can develop self discipline by setting realistic expectations for ourselves, and creating positive habits such as planning ahead, keeping track of progress against timelines, or forming daily routines that ensure we stay on task until the completion of objectives set out at the beginning of projects or activities.

Gone are the days where just working hard and getting the job done was enough to get you a good job/perm position. In today's competitive market, one needs to showcase their work no matter how small. I've been told by many CXOs that unless an employee has repeatedly shown their work in some form like Reports, Dashboards, daily updates, etc. they don't even know who is doing what. It's very difficult for department heads who make the decision of offering a perm role to know what you are doing. I grew in my organisation just because of this so I know it works. So make sure whatever you do is being showcased in some form. LinkedIn is a great way to talk about your work and build on it too. This will also help you get noticed by others.

I'm had both part-time and full-time contract work in my career, and these were very rewarding to me. Here are some pointers: 1. Financial Planning: Temporary work can be financially unpredictable. Developing a budget that accommodates this variability can help ease financial stress and allow you to focus on your career goals. 2. Work-Life Balance: While pursuing permanent opportunities, don’t forget to maintain a healthy work-life balance. Burnout can undermine your efforts and affect your well-being. 3. Openness to Change: Sometimes, the pursuit of a permanent role may lead you to unexpected opportunities. Stay open to roles or industries you hadn't previously considered if they align with your long-term career objectives.

In today’s job market not all companies taking on temp or contacted employees are planning to bring them on full time no matter how great of a job you do. I have seen it happen a lot with clients the past several months. When starting the role, it’s very important to be upfront and talk about the opportunity and if the company is even looking to take on any more full time workers. If yes, great! Chat more about expectations and what you can do to set yourself up for the most success. If no, realize that that just might be the case. There’s no point in getting discouraged for not being promoted to full time if that was never the company’s plan.

In my experience people are either cut out for contract work or their not. If you want to roll perm you have to make your talents, contributions and skills obvious to the right people where you are working on contract. Never assume everyone who needs to know you knows you Depending on the size of the organization, there might be other departments who could use your skills. Reach out and make your wishes known Just because your contract terms say one thing, you can influence the timing with awareness. Most companies can save a good bit of money rolling you perm, but the work has to support that move too The alternative is to continue to upskill and charge more and become a career contractor/consultant. Start your own business

It is the age of the gig economy. I coached a person who was also insanely focused on getting a permanent job. But we then unravelled that he actually loved being a gig worker. It brought out the best in him, he loved the variety of work he was doing and that he decided his balance and quantum of work. I do also believe that there is ample scope today if you have a niche offering where gig work can add up to nearly as much or at times exceed just not the renumeration but freedom to choose.