A Bountiful Season?
Last year, employers added more than 700,000 retail jobs in the last three months of the year. This year, experts predict the number will likely be smaller -- but employers will still be looking for hundreds of thousands of workers.
"It's really still a job seeker's market for retail," said John Challenger, CEO of global outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas. He noted that nationwide unemployment is relatively low. However, recent reports do suggest employers are pulling back on hiring. This, combined with high gas prices and the problems in the mortgage industry, makes Challenger predict fewer seasonal jobs this year than last.
Strategies for Success
If you want to land one of these seasonal jobs, Challenger and other experts offer these tips:
* Look beyond retail. Most holiday jobs are with retail stores, selling gifts. But caterers get increased business for holiday parties, and engineering and law firms have to cover workers' vacations. UPS hires tens of thousands of seasonal workers to deliver millions of packages daily from Thanksgiving to Christmas. These workers do everything from processing packages to driving trucks, said Heather Robinson, a spokesperson for UPS.
For students home for the holidays, taking a temporary office job could be "an opportunity to get their foot in the door and give them a taste of corporate America," said Deborah DeCamp, regional director for Manpower Professional in Chicago.
* Start early. Large companies may start taking applications for seasonal work as early as September, with many interviewing and selecting candidates in October, Challenger said. Smaller companies may hold off a little longer. For UPS, hiring picks up in October and early November, Robinson said.
* Do your research. Retailers want to hire people who know their merchandise and are enthusiastic about it. So it makes sense to start your job search with stores where you shop. "If you're a good customer, make sure you tell them that," Challenger said.
Reading about local companies and industries can help you pinpoint other places to look for holiday work, as well. If you read that a company is growing, you can call and ask if they need any extra help.
* Take it personally. The Internet is a great way to find out who's hiring and in many cases to submit a resume. But personal contact with a hiring manager may be what seals the deal.
"What makes you stand out?" DeCamp said. A phone call after you've submitted your resume is one good idea: "showing some tenacity, a little bit of proactive attention toward that job."
* Look to the future. Most holiday jobs end after the holidays. But some can last longer -- and they can also be a valuable introduction to a company that may hire you for an ongoing job sometime in the future. Robinson said about one-quarter of UPS' seasonal workers end up being hired into permanent jobs. So when you choose where to work for the holidays -- and while you're on the job -- think about your future prospects as well as the present.
