You've found the perfect company to work for and a role that you're excited to take on. There's just one problem: It's a part-time job, and you're looking for full-time work.
If you're stuck working part-time when you'd rather be working more, you're not alone. A good 59% of folks with part-time jobs would rather have full-time roles, according to Jobvite. But if you play your cards right, you might manage to get your way in that regard. Here's how.
1. Make your intentions clear
If you're eager to get offered a full-time role at your company, say so. Some people enjoy part-time jobs because they allow for a better work-life balance. If that's not your situation, then don't hesitate to verbalize that to your boss. This way, if a full-time role opens up, your name could get pushed to the top of the list.
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2. Take on more responsibility
Maybe the job you're doing right now isn't one that requires 40 hours or more of work on a weekly basis. If that's the case, you can build your case for a full-time job by increasing your workload. Volunteer for new projects, or find ways to expand the scope of your existing job so that you're doing more. If you're a solid worker, chances are that your company will be happy to bring you on board full-time once there's a business need for it.
3. Prove yourself invaluable
Working in a part-time role gives you a great opportunity to figure out what needs your company has and how to address them. For example, if you're in a part-time IT role and determine that your department is lacking someone who knows a specific software, you can learn that software inside and out so that when your boss realizes an expert is needed, you'll be well positioned to fill that requirement. Similarly, if you become the company's go-to person on a specific integral task, your boss might recognize the value you bring to the table and find a way to score you a full-time role to avoid losing you.
4. Be a strong team player
Meshing well with your team will increase your chances of landing a full-time role when one becomes available. If you want to avoid getting stuck in a part-time rut, figure out what it takes to integrate well with your team, and aim to be as helpful as possible. The more highly your colleagues think of you, the more likely they'll be to push to make you a full-time member of the team.
5. Network internally
Just as networking can help you land a job in the first place, it can also enable you to go from part-time worker to full-timer. The more people you meet within the company you work for, the more likely you'll be to come to mind when a full-time role becomes available, so introduce yourself to different managers and get to know people in various areas of the business.
Accepting a part-time role is a good way to get your foot in the door and develop some skills and experience. But if you'd rather be working full-time, do your best to carve out that opportunity for yourself. With any luck, you'll be successful.
