If you’ve been hired for a “temp-to-perm” job or offered a temporary contract with the possibility of becoming a full time employee, this can work out well for you in a few key ways. First, if you decide after your short contract period that the company culture isn’t for you, the work you complete can’t take your career where you’d like it to go, or you simply don’t love your boss, you can depart with your career, reputation and resume strongly intact. On the other hand, if you decide that you like the company and you want to stay, you’ll have three to six months to convince your employer to hire you full time. Here are a few moves that can help, especially if you apply them starting on your very first day.

Dress for success (don’t dress to impress)

You’re new, and nobody at the company knows very much about you, so don’t be shocked to learn that as superficial as it sounds, you WILL be judged on your attire. So make sure your clothing is neat, well fitting, in good repair, and a match for the culture around you. Nice, dignified clothing shows respect for the organization and your coworkers. And your clothing can make it clear that you’re trying to fit in. Just don’t show off or stand out by overdressing, and you’ll make a strong statement without saying a word.

Form real relationships

Make a concerted effort to meet the people around you, remember their names, and find common ground that can help you build meaningful friendships. You won’t regret doing this, no matter what happens with the job. In the meantime, you’ll be forming alliances with those who can help you improve both your performance and your impact.

Show personal interest in the company

Learn all you can about the company, its history, and how its business model works. This information might come in handy, and your interest can come off as a desire to become part of the team. Hiring managers usually want to select and hire the people who genuinely want to be there, so if there’s something about the company that piques your curiosity, inspires you, or makes you proud, let it show.

Perform above expectations

There’s no need to set the bar unreasonably high, but try to perform as if it’s your first week every week. Recognize that you’re being evaluated all the time, and without burning yourself out or working overtime without pay, make sure your work ethic reflects your very best.

For more on how to get one step ahead and position yourself for full time employment after your contract period ends, reach out to the career management team at Extension.