4 tips to go from freelance to full-time

Contract gigs are a convenient setup, offering freedom and flexibility. You’re expected to jump right in, solve problems and six months later move on to your next exciting role, no strings attached. As appealing as the freedom sounds, it’s also a challenge securing roles so often. Besides, it can be nice to have the job security that comes along with a permanent position.

But how do you convince your current employer to hire you full-time?

Here are 4 tips that you can follow to turn a freelance position into full-time employment.

1. Don’t act like a contract employee
Even when you’re on an assignment, perform as if you already have a full-time position. Be professional and motivated in everything you do and put in the extra effort and time when required. Make sure you add value to your team by thinking out of the box and providing feedback when you think it’s necessary. If you act like a part-timer, it will be harder for the employer to take you seriously in a full-time capacity.

2. Be an indispensable part of the team
Needless to say, an employer won’t want to hire you full time if you underperform. And at times meeting the expectations of your role isn’t always enough. Employers look for candidates who go above and beyond what’s expected of them. To truly stand out you should strive to outshine the full-time employees in your team. Aim to become the “go-to” person the team can rely on to get things done.

3. Remember, every day can be an interview
Never forget that your temporary assignment is always under scrutiny, just like a long interview. Every day, you’re building a case for why you should be hired and how you can make an impact in the company and if you consistently show your skills and abilities. Build the right relationships to help convert to a full-time position, but remember that your performance plays a big part in clinching the job.

4. Start a conversation
Lastly, once you’ve secured your colleagues’ confidence, schedule a conversation with your supervisor, discussing the possibility of coming on full-time. This conversation is likely to happen over multiple discussions before you’re finally offered a full-time role.

Keep cool - your goal of initiating this chat is to seed the idea of you transitioning from freelance to full-time and then to give the employer time to digest what you’ve offered.