Find a Job You Really Want In
“Temp to hire” is an employment type where temporary employees, or temps, seamlessly assume short-term responsibilities. By leveraging the expertise of dedicated temp agencies, companies can efficiently fill positions without the burdens of direct employment, and workers can get solid experience without the commitment.
Within these dynamic networks, the concept of temp-to-hire thrives, providing a remarkable opportunity for employers to scout top talent and candidates to secure positions tailored to their unique skill sets. In this article, we’ll discuss the temp to hire meaning as well as crucial pros and cons to know to make informed decisions.
Key Takeaways:
-
Temp-to-hire positions are temporary jobs that have potential to develop in a full-time opportunity if certain expectations are met.
-
Temp-to-hire positions are normally 6 months long, after which the employee is evaluated.
-
Temp hire positions are mutually beneficial for employees and employers. Employees have the potential to turn a short-term opportunity into a full-time job, and employers do not have to commit as much time and resources to the hiring process while avoiding hiring risks.
-
To turn a temp-to-hire position into a full-time job, you should be reliable, hard working, and do your best to fit in with the company’s culture and needs.
Temp to hire meaning
A temp-to-hire position is a role that starts as a temporary gig with the potential to grow into a full-time position if the individual excels in the responsibilities. The employer uses their time as a temp to decide whether they want to bring them on to their team permanently.
This is an arrangement that’s established before the individual starts working as a temp with established guidelines for how it will work.
Usually, a temp-to-hire scenario places a candidate in a role that’s slotted to last around half a year — the terms of this timeline function similarly to a new employee’s probationary period. Once the temp time is completed, the candidate and their work are evaluated by the company.
After evaluation, the employer decides to sever the relationship, extend the temp period, or take on the individual as a full-time employee. When they accept a full-time employment offer, they are no longer affiliated with their temporary staffing agency and begin the process of onboarding with the company.
During this time of transition, there might be negotiations about salary or benefits and updates to the temp worker’s role, but overall, their job responsibilities remain the same.
Choose From 10+ Customizable Resume templates
Zippia allows you to choose from different easy-to-use resume templates, and provides you with expert advice. Using the templates, you can rest assured that the structure and format of your resume is top notch. Choose a template with the colors, fonts & text sizes that are appropriate for your industry.
Is temp to hire worth it?
While many companies seek the traditional hiring route when looking to fill a role, there are a bunch of benefits to using temp-to-hire jobs for both employers and potential employees. Below are a few of the greatest benefits of temp-to-hire jobs:
-
It allows the candidate to gain real experience on the job. The temp-to-hire situation puts potential hires in the role for a length of time before taking them on as full-time employees. This allows the candidate to be fully prepared for the responsibilities they’ll need to take on when they’re hired after the temp period.
It takes a lot of the guesswork out of figuring if a position is the right fit. This aspect is also helpful for employers because it gives them months to evaluate the candidates before deciding to bring them on as a full-time team member.
-
Saves employers money on the hiring process. The average search for hiring a new employee in the conventional way costs over $4,000 and over a month of precious time. All of this money and effort is spent assessing applicants who the employer can’t watch working in action before committing to.
Opting for candidates provided by a staffing agency is a good way to lessen the initial hiring process costs and future potential expenses due to staff turnover.
-
Sources fitting positions for the candidate. The job search is a grueling process that drives just about every job-seeker a little crazy.
Foregoing the difficulties of applying and interviewing for various positions is a tempting alternative. Working through temporary employment with the possibility for hire later might be the answer to this prayer.
In addition to skipping past the niceties of applying to various positions, it also provides the candidate an adequate amount of time to fully prove their skills. In a job interview, it’s easy to get passed over for another applicant if you can’t dazzle.
Working in a temp-to-hire position provides the candidate with more time than a 30-minute interview to prove that they’re the right person for the full-time job.
-
Reduces hiring risks for the company. The hiring process is costly in more ways than one; it’s also a fairly risky bet. Going all-in on an applicant during a traditional hiring procedure means committing to an individual who the company doesn’t know very well.
Anyone can display an impressive experience on a resume and perform well in a job interview, but they could be an entirely different person once they’re hired as full-time staff.
Choosing to find temporary employees that could eventually turn full-time through a staffing agency safeguards companies from choosing the wrong applicant and diminishes a lot of the risk associated with hiring new people.
Tips for employees to turn a temp position to full-time employment
Individuals who participate in a temp-to-hire program are often eager to be placed in a full-time position. Building a name for yourself within a company and impressing your employer to secure a role isn’t easy.
A temporary employee working towards a full-time offer can take a few courses of action to improve their chances of receiving a positive outcome:
-
Build rapport with people at work. While forming bonds with co-workers is just encouraged for regularly hired employees, it’s practically a requirement for temporary employees.
When your work and performance are being evaluated to decide whether you’ll be invited to stay permanently, the employer turns to your coworkers for their opinions.
Their answer probably won’t flip a solidified ruling; it could secure the role if an employer is teetering on the edge of hiring you full-time.
Building rapport in a temporary role is a good way to form professional connections, regardless of if you’re offered the position full-time. You never know who might have an opportunity available for you in the future.
-
Act as if the job is already yours. Part of securing a job that’s not technically yours yet is acting as if it is. This means putting forth the work and effort that you would if you’d already been hired for the role full-time.
It is noticeable to an employer when a temp isn’t giving a position the full attention it deserves, and they’ll take action for the offense.
Develop a mindset and habits that demonstrate your commitment to the role.
-
Be the most reliable employee in the joint. While every employee should prioritize being a dependable asset for their organization, this is extra significant for temporary employees.
A temp who is hoping to be taken on full-time needs to treat their time working as a chance to show the quality of employee they’ll be when hired. Since a huge portion of a company’s success rests with its staff, employers are keen to hire people who demonstrate reliability.
-
Be open to learning more. Another characteristic to demonstrate while temping is the openness to learn more. Be accepting of all kinds of information, including advice about the role and facts about the company you’re working for.
Apart from learning skills being attractive assets to employers, it also shows that you’re willing to expand your knowledge to become a better employee.
-
Communicate your passion for the role and company. Employers want to hire people who are passionate about the position, industry, and company. Even though it may be obvious to you that you’re vying for a full-time position, the business you’re temping with could be completely oblivious to your enthusiasm.
Communicate these feelings frankly and make sure everybody is on the same page.
Best temp-to-hire practices for employers
Even though using a temporary-agency to find staff eliminates a lot of hiring risks, the process still needs to be approached correctly. Mismanaging temporary contracts or staffing services results in an unpleasant scenario for everyone involved.
Browse some of the best temp-to-hire practices for employers below:
-
Be clear about the role’s requirements and responsibilities. It’s important to be upfront about the requirements and responsibilities for the role when writing a position’s description on job postings. This is true of temp-to-hire positions too.
It wastes both the company and employee’s time to put them in a position that doesn’t fit their abilities. If a candidate isn’t able to fulfill the role’s responsibilities, it sets them up to fail. Likewise, it brings an employer back to square one.
To avoid a situation where anyone feels unsure about what’s expected of them, clearly lay out the position’s requirements and responsibilities.
-
Research staffing services diligently. A temporary employee is usually only as good as the staffing services they represent. After deciding that creating a temp-to-hire work scenario is the best way to find a new employee, the next move is researching the best temping agencies.
Choosing a reputable temp service starts the process on the best foot and brings the ideal candidates straight to you.
Some examples of online staffing services include:
-
Upshift
-
Define success for the role beforehand and evaluate the candidate’s performance accordingly. Once your company has decided on a temporary employee to fill the role, potentially for good, be sure to outline expectations for success in the role.
Employees who are given explicit instructions on how to excel in their position rise to the challenge more often than those who are confused.
It’s especially crucial to define success for a temporary employee because they’re entering a work environment that they’re unfamiliar with and need a little more guidance.
After outlining goals for the position, reach back to the temporary employee more often to measure their performance. When bringing on a temp with plans to potentially make them permanent, paying attention to performance and growth over time is even more crucial than usual.
This also helps when making the call about their finalization as a full-time employee by providing concrete examples of achievement.
Temp to hire frequently asked questions
-
Is temp to hire a good idea?
-
Why do companies hire temp-to-perm?
-
What are the disadvantages of temp-to-hire policy?
Yes, temp-to-hire is worth it as long as you accept its conditions. For an employee, this means understanding that a temp-to-hire role does not guarantee a full-time job at the end. You have to use the temp period as an opportunity to prove yourself. Consider the temp period as an extended audition, so treat your job seriously and maximize your opportunities.
Companies hire temp-to-perm because it reduces the risk of a bad hire. Companies are able reduce the stresses of the hiring process by using temp-to-perm to save time and money. Generally a temp-to-perm comes through a staffing agency, which allows the company to pull from a pool of qualified candidates faster than on their own. Then, the company can observe the temp over time and decide whether or not they are a good fit.
As an employee, a temp-to-perm position has the disadvantage of lacking full-time benefits. Because you are a temporary employee, you will likely miss out on benefits such as vacation or a retirement plan. It is also not guaranteed that you will be offered a full-time job at the end of your temporary work period.
Jobs Near You
Author
Sky Ariella is a professional freelance writer, originally from New York. She has been featured on websites and online magazines covering topics in career, travel, and lifestyle. She received her BA in psychology from Hunter College.
