Happy hiring: How to land a temporary position for the holidays
Students and professionals with a more seasonal schedule, such as teachers or landscapers, are a natural fit to add extra staffing for the busy holiday retail season. However, those who have been unemployed for several months and
others just seeking some extra holiday cash are also throwing themselves into the mix. And let’s not forget the disappearance of many brick-and-mortar stores. Still, there are jobs out there, but how do you position yourself to land a decent temporary gig this holiday season?
Workplace expert Meagan Johnson encourages job seekers not to overlook the advantage their age can bring to a position, whether they be young or more mature.
“College and high school students may not have retail experience, but they do have a broad knowledge of social media and technology. They also have physical stamina and the ability to relate to younger shoppers,” says Johnson. “Those attributes make them a natural fit for electronics, music and fashion retailers.”
People persons
Full-time professionals, such as teachers and social workers, or the long-time unemployed also may lack retail experience, but they offer valuable people skills for stores with customers of a similar demographic, they say.
“For example, people who shop at Walmart, Sam’s Club, the big box home improvement stores or other discount chains tend to be older and would rather get advice and guidance from someone
who appears to share their values, lifestyle and background,” Johnson says.
The bottom line: Think about where you like to shop, be it every day or during the holidays, and apply your enthusiasm for that place to your job search.
Job seekers are also encouraged to think beyond retail when looking for seasonal work. Look for employment at winter resorts, catering opportunities and jobs with delivery and transportation companies such as Amazon, UPS and FedEx.
Crafting your message
Expanding the list of places in need of seasonal work may be all that’s needed to realize how your experience can apply toward a temporary position, but others still may be scratching their heads.
Begin by coming up with a temporary resume. Rather than focus on the resume itself, applicants should focus on highlighting key competencies for
success in jobs involving customer interactions. Don’t worry so much about the chronology of a resume — put your
applicable and relatable experiences front and center.
One thing all employers hiring for the season are looking for is a positive attitude. Highlighting a time when you diffused a tense situation may provide a good boost to your seasonal application
As happy as the holidays are, for many people — especially frantic shoppers — it’s a time when patience runs low and tempers run high. Let hirers know that you can handle high-stress situations with diplomacy and a positive attitude.
– Marco Buscaglia