How temporary workers can turn a good start into a permanent job

Most research on starting a new job focuses on how people learn their tasks and settle in. But this study looked at something different: whether doing your job well as a temporary employee actually helps you get hired permanently. The researchers found that being good at your tasks can lead to a permanent offer—but only under certain conditions.

First, your coworkers shouldn't be too closed off or unwelcoming, because having supportive peers can help you perform better. Second, you shouldn't just blindly follow all the rules—instead, showing some flexibility and independent thinking can build trust with your manager.

In a study of 194 new hires and their supervisors, those who performed well and were trusted by their supervisors were more likely to be offered a permanent job, but only when their coworkers were supportive and they weren’t overly rigid with rules.Montani, F., Bullini Orlandi, L., Dufour, L., & Manca, C. (2025). Turning Task-Adjusted Temporary Newcomers into Permanent Employees: An Identity Perspective (external link, opens in new window) . Journal of Management. DOI: 10.1177/01492063251314001