Seasonal Employment - 2007
‘Tis the season for seasonal employment, but those searching for holiday jobs aren’t going to have as many options as they have in Christmases past. With the housing market suffering and gas prices on the rise, employers don’t have the funds to hire as many individuals as they have in other years. Add to this the fact that holiday spending forecast show that many families won’t be spending as much as usual, companies are having to scale back on seasonal employment.
With many counting on seasonal employment to help them afford to purchase gifts for friends and family, the retail industry might be further injuring itself. Those who are looking for temporary positions should expect more competition. With competition higher for seasonal employment than in years past, it is important to apply to more positions than one usually would. Simply applying to two or three companies may not be sufficient, especially in larger cities.
When looking for employment it is important to start as soon as possible. Those who delay will find themselves with out a holiday job. For the most part, large retail sales start the day after Thanksgiving and continue till Christmas. Because of this, many employers do most of their hiring prior to and directly after Thanksgiving.
Although many temporary seasonal positions do not require resumes, having one looks more professional and gives an individual more of a competitive edge. When creating a resume for seasonal employment, it is important to include all prior work, especially positions that exhibit one’s customer service and retail experience. Shawn Boyer, the CEO of Snagajob.com says that people skills are extremely important for seasonal employment. Those who have these talents are more likely to find temporary or entry level employment.
Aside from the skills necessary to be successful in a retail environment, schedule flexibility will make one more marketable to those hiring seasonal employees. Those willing to work late nights and weekends, when many sales occur, will have the easiest time undertaking a job search. Those searching for seasonal employment should check out local mall websites, where multiple stores post available positions. Large retailer, such as Wal-Mart and Target, are also bulking up staff to meet holiday demands.