In October, 4.8 million Americans worked part time only because they could not get full-time hours, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. If you are one of them, waiting is not your only option. You can ask for the change, look where the longer shifts are, and keep getting paid while you do it.

1. Sometimes It Starts With an Ask

Sometimes the only thing between you and more hours is a conversation nobody has started. Your manager may not know you want full time. Many people assume they would have been offered it by now, so they never bring it up.

Pick a calm moment, not the middle of a rush or the end of a rough shift. Ask for a few minutes in private: “Do you have some time this week? I’d love to talk about my hours.”

When you sit down, start with what you like about the job, then make the ask simple: “I enjoy working here and I’d like to grow with the team. Is there a path for me to move to full time?” Mention your attendance and the shifts you have helped cover, then name the schedule you can work. The easier you make it to picture, the easier it is to say yes.

If the timing isn’t right, stay positive and ask, “What would you need to see from me, and when do you expect something might open up?” Then thank them and check back in a month or so. If you get a yes, ask for the change to be made official, because working more hours does not always change your status on paper.

2. Become the First Person They Call

When someone calls in sick or a rush hits, offer to help before anyone has to ask. Tell your supervisor, “If you ever need someone to pick up a shift, call me first.” The extra hours add to your paycheck now, and they show what you can do at full-time hours.

Make it easy to count on you. Show up on time, learn a second station or task, and offer to train new people when you can. The person who can step in anywhere is hard to keep at 25 hours.

3. Apply Where the Hours Are

Your next job search should start with the industries that run longer weeks. Here are October’s average weekly hours from the Bureau of Labor Statistics:

• Durable goods manufacturing: 41.0 hours
• Nondurable goods manufacturing: 39.5 hours
• Wholesale trade: 39.5 hours
• Transportation and warehousing: 37.8 hours
• Professional and business services: 36.8 hours

Retail averaged 30.2 hours and leisure and hospitality averaged 25.5. These are averages, so ask about the actual schedule before you accept.

4. Keep Your Job While You Look

Do not quit first. A current job keeps money coming in and shows employers you are reliable. Apply on your days off and tell recruiters which days you can interview. Indeed Hiring Lab reports that employers have been leaning toward experience, so put your steady work history near the top of your resume.

5. Talk to a Recruiter

Sedona Staffing has connected people with industrial, office, and technical jobs for 40 years, including temporary, temp-to-hire, and direct-hire roles. Our recruiters know the local market and can share openings that may not be posted publicly.

Tell your recruiter you want full-time hours and which shifts you can work. There is no cost to you, because Sedona is paid by the employer and never takes any part of your paycheck. The goal is simple: help you find work with the hours you need.

Questions We Hear:

Q. How do I go from part time to full time?

A. Ask your employer for a full-time role and apply in industries with longer workweeks at the same time.

Q. Which jobs are most likely to offer 40 hours?

A. Start with manufacturing, wholesale, and warehousing, where October averages ran from about 38 to 41 hours.

Q. Should I quit before I start looking?

A. No. Keep your paycheck and apply on your days off.

Q. If I work 35 hours a week, am I full time?

A. Not automatically. Ask your employer to make the change official.

Q. Can a staffing agency help me get full-time hours?

A. Yes. Sedona Staffing helps candidates find temp-to-hire and direct-hire roles at no cost to them.

Final Thoughts

You can do the first move today. Ask for the meeting, then send out one application for a job with longer hours.

Doing both gives you two ways forward while your paycheck keeps coming in. More hours rarely show up on their own. Go ask.

This article is for informational purposes only and job placement or employment is not guaranteed. This article was written by our team of staffing experts. We leverage advanced AI tools to assist with research and composition, and every piece is reviewed and edited by our team.