Everyone dreams of landing the perfect permanent role, but the search can sometimes be long and tireless, making it feel impossible. Just before you give up and settle for something that you may not love, what if we told you that the perfect permanent role may be sitting somewhere you haven’t yet searched? Yes, that’s right, we have a way to widen the scope when searching for permanent roles and the answer is three simple words… temp-to-perm!
This term is used to describe roles that hold the promise of a permanent position for the right candidate. You will start out in the same capacity as a permanent employee, but for the initial period with the company, you will be paid as a temporary contractor until you are officially on perm payroll. And that’s all the “temp” in the “temp-to-perm” really means! When companies advertise temp-to-perm, that are ultimately recruiting for a permanent role and ruling out these opportunities because you’re holding out for a straight perm role may just cost you your dream opportunity.
It’s not just a temp assignment
We understand that the word “temp” may hold certain stigma or feeling of uncertainty, but in the case of temp-to-perm, this shouldn’t deter you. 90% of candidates in temp-to-perm roles successfully become permanent employees once the temporary period has elapsed. Candidates that do not continue in a permanent capacity will likely leave on mutual terms after discovering that it wasn’t exactly what they thought it would be, and because it was a temp-to-perm role, it can be easily explained on your CV without creating the impression that you are job hopping.
‘Hack’ the job market
Today, we are all about finding ‘life-hacks’ to optimise our time and resources. Temp-to-perm roles may well be the ultimate hack for the job market as they broaden your opportunities and let you swoop ahead of job seekers looking exclusively for permanent work. Landing a temp-to-perm role can get your foot in the door of your dream company before they advertise a permanent position. The number of people applying for permanent roles is also usually higher, so why wouldn’t you want to jump in when the competition is lower?!
FAQs
Why do companies choose temp-to-perm over straight perm?
Temp-to-perm hiring shows that the company takes great pride in their onboarding and company culture as they want to ensure the candidates is the right fit before making a permanent hire.
What kinds of companies utilise temp-to-perm?
Temp-to-perm is an increasingly popular option for companies across a broad range of industries including finance, construction, professional services, recreation, media, technology and education. We also see temp-to-perm utilised regardless of whether the company is an SME or large corporation.
How long is the temp portion of temp-to-perm?
On average, the temp portion will last for 3 months, however, it can be shorter. It’s also not unlikely that if you’re doing an amazing job, the company will transition you to perm sooner than anticipated!
Will I still have a probation period when I go perm?
This will depend on the company and any relevant policies, but if you do still have a probation period, it’s pretty safe to say you should be in the clear having established your competency and fit in the temp portion of your role.
What will the pay look like while employed as a temporary contractor?
You will be paid an hourly rate as agreed at the start of your time with the company. This rate will be determined by the market rate for someone in your position, so if you’re trying to calculate a yearly salary based on an hourly rate or derive an hourly rate from a yearly salary, your numbers won’t always match up. It’s best to speak to your recruiter if you have any questions about how your pay is calculated.
