EARLY PRESENCE PAYS OFF
Get ready for Christmas this July. Cara Jenkin reports
JOB ads for summer and Christmas casuals start being advertised this month – so jobseekers need to get their applications in order now, if they have not done so already. SEEK data shows July traditionally is the first month of a four-month spike in the number of job advertisements placed in the hospitality, tourism and retail sectors, as employers look to shore up their Christmas and summer casual workforces.
September is the month when most job ads are placed in these industries, when one in five roles on average have been in the hospitality and tourism, or retail sectors.
However many businesses start recruiting earlier, especially if they need to train staff or are expecting a high number of applicants to vet.
Regardless, jobseekers should have their resume ready to submit, a cover letter prepared to tailor, and even start looking for job ads sooner than they may realise.
Chefs/cooks, waiting staff and re- tail assistants have the greatest number of new job ads during these months, while managers in these industries also are in demand.
Administration also offers roles, particularly in temping to cover for permanent workers on leave, and many recreation roles are available such as lifeguarding at swimming pools or assisting at an animal kennel, when more animals stay as their owners go away on holidays.
Career Development Association of Australia national president Wanda Hayes says it may surprise jobseekers that employers will start recruiting staff months in advance of a start date.
“They start earlier than they would think,” she says.
Hayes advises young workers without an employment history to ask others about what they should include, such as achievements, examples of job-ready skills, or valued personality traits.
Entree Recruitment general manager Megan Nicholson says temp work in administration and other business support roles such as human resources and customer services often is available during the Christmas/summer season.
“It’s a good time to get your foot in the door,” she says.