2 May 2026
Three questions to ask before signing a temporary contract with conversion hopes
Hope of later permanence is not a clause. These questions keep the temporary agreement honest about what it can and cannot promise.
Agencies sometimes describe a role as “often converted” or “a good path into the company.” That language belongs in a conversation, not in your assumptions when you sign.
1. Who decides on permanence?
Ask whether the host company or the agency initiates conversion discussions — and who writes the permanent contract if it happens. The answer tells you whose calendar you need to respect.
2. What ends the temporary assignment?
Clarify notice periods, maximum assignment length mentioned in the paperwork, and what happens if the host pauses the need for temporary labour. Conversion hopes collapse quickly when an assignment ends without a written permanent offer.
3. Is any conversion process written down?
If the temporary agreement or a side letter mentions a review date, keep a copy. If nothing is written, treat permanence as a separate negotiation you will need to open later — with employment consulting support if the stakes are high.
Workers who ask these questions early rarely regret the pause. Those who skip them often arrive at a pathway review with more urgency than leverage.