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| 5 Ways a Part-Time Job Can Lead to a Full-Time Career
Erin Smith
Oct 01,2007
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Part-time work needn't be just a way to pay the bills. Your experience at the neighbourhood
coffee shop or fast-food restaurant can put you ahead of the pack when it comes to getting
full-time employment – even in an unrelated career. Here are five reasons why a part-time job
is worth more than the extra money in your pocket.
1. A foot in the door
Many jobs are never advertised externally because companies find they can recruit from within their own ranks.After all, it's easier for an employer to hire someone with a proven track record. As a part-time worker, you'll have access to the company's internal publications and job advertisements, putting you in the right place at the right time – and often with the right experience – to win a full-time position.
2. Proof of your skills
A favourite interview question requires candidates to give a past example of howthey succeeded in their job. It's one of the best ways for an employer to test you have enough experience for the role. A part-time job will give you real-world experience solving problems, dealing with clients and coming up with ideas. In the interview, you will be able to recall examples of your accomplishments to prove you can actually do what you claim you can do.
3. Networking opportunities
One of the most powerful ways to find a job is through networking. After all, many jobs never get advertised, in part because an employer has already found the right person through word of mouth.Creating a big network for yourself will give you lots of chances to meet people – and the more people you meet, the more work opportunities you are likely to hear about. Part-time jobs help give your network a boost, not just through your co-workers but through people you meet every day in your job. If you're serving customers, you'll have hundreds of opportunities throughout the day to strike up a conversation that could lead to a new member for your network.
4. Transferable skills
Even if your ideal career is light-years away from your part-time job,you'll still pick up skills that will be valuable to a future employer. A job as an associate in a busy store, for example, will teach you valuable service skills, to multitask and to prioritize your work. You'll also gain a basic idea of how a business is run, how to handle money and how to work as a team.All these skills will come in useful when you are working full-time, no matter which field you're in.
5. Valuable references
Most employers ask for at least two references before making a new hire so they can check your credentials and get a second-opinion on you as a potential member of staff. If you work hard to succeed in your part-time job, you'll be able to ask your boss for a reference, knowing it will be positive. A glowing reference that proves you are a valuable employee will smooth your transition into a full-time career.
It’s your attitude towards part-time work that really counts. If you look at your job in a positive way and use it to gain valuable work and life skills, you'll enjoy the job much more and stand an excellent chance of succeeding in a full-time position in your chosen career.
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