Congratulations, you just landed your first temporary job! Whether you found your job on your own or through a recruiting firm such as Murray Resources, one of the leading Houston temp agencies, take note of the following practices to avoid in the office.

Showing up Late

Temporary positions can turn permanent, but only if your supervisor knows they can depend on you. Building trust starts with being on time every day. On the rare occasion that will be a little late for reasons outside your control (you are caught in heavy traffic or had to run to the doctor unexpectedly, for example), call your boss to give them a head’s up. Note, in many cases your recruiting firm will ask that you call the firm directly so that they can notify your employer.

Sharing Personal Information

It is never a good idea to over-share personal information with co-workers, regardless if you are a temporary worker or operating or a full-time employee of the firm.

“People have a tendency to make judgments,” says Cathy Reilly, author of The Temp Factor: The Complete Guide to Employment for Staffing Services, Clients and Temps. “Especially when you are new and/or temporary, revealing too much isn’t a good practice. It is better to let your co-workers warm up to you first.”

Looking for Jobs at Work

Maybe a temporary job wasn’t your top choice; maybe you wanted a full-time job instead, but the temp position was all you could find. The quickest way to lose that opportunity is by looking for full-time roles while on the clock. Even on your phone. Just don’t do it.

Giving Your Resume to Your Boss

Handing your resume to your boss on a temporary assignment is a big no-no. While you may love the idea of joining the company full time, this action undermines the agreement you have with your staffing firm. If you are interested in a more permanent position, go to your recruiter first. Top Houston temp agencies such as Murray Resources routinely work with temporary workers to find them permanent positions.

“As an employer, I’ve been offered resumes by temporary employees,” says Reilly. “It turned me off to them right away. If I hired the person directly, I would not be paying a hiring fee to the staffing firm I was using to find them in the first place. The act of giving me a resume shows disloyalty to the staffing firm, which looks poorly on the employee.”

Failing to Take Initiative

After a staffing agency places you in a temporary role, you may find the work to be less challenging than what you initially thought. If you find yourself finishing work early on certain days, ask to take on extra projects. Doing this will show your employer that you posses initiative and can be trusted with more complex tasks.

Murray Resources

Founded in 1988, Murray Resources is a leading Houston staffing agency. The company serves a base of over 800 client companies, including numerous Fortune™ 1000 companies and high-growth small and medium-sized organizations.

Murray Resources has been named a “Best Places to Work” by the Houston Business Journal and the #1 Fastest Growing Woman Owned Business in the Personnel Category by the Houston Business Journal. For more information, contact Murray Resources at 713.935.0009.