Part-time and holiday jobs are worth the effort

If you’ve been considering part-time or holiday work, now’s the time to take the leap. In some cases you can choose your own hours, location or tasks — options not generally made available to a contingent workforce.

Nor are employers shy about hiring workers without experience. If you can demonstrate a willingness to show up and learn, you’ll get a better reception this year than would usually be the case.

But isn’t it a hassle to apply and wait for an answer? Maybe, but I’ve known more than one candidate who simply dropped by a store with resume in hand, asking to speak with the manager. In one case, the individual was interviewed on the spot and put on the schedule for the next day.

Here are five steps to make use of the unique circumstances for this market.

1. Choose the work you want to do.

As with any job search, the advantage goes to the person who is focused. By deciding you’d rather work in a grocery store than a restaurant, or as a part-time receptionist rather than as a part-time driver, you can streamline your process and get faster results.

2. Identify 10-15 places to approach.

Now that you know the kind of work you’re seeking, you can more readily identify organizations that could use your help. When selecting potential employers, remember that commute time should correlate to the job. For example, a four-hour shift probably doesn’t justify a one-hour round trip.

3. Make a short, relevant resume. While some organizations post ads for their part-time or temporary openings, many do not — which means there won’t be an online application to complete. Your best tool for this process is a short resume that highlights any relevant skills or experience.

4. Email, call or visit. Since time is short and some or most of the places on your list won’t be advertising, you really have no choice but to reach out directly to ask if they need help. In the case of a store or other place that’s open to the public, an in-person visit might be the most expeditious, while positions in offices or other “hidden” workplaces can best be reached by phone or email. Be sure to include your resume in each contact, to enable a fast reply.

5. Keep moving. This is the kind of campaign that works best when approached with intensity. Ten resumes dropped off in a single afternoon will lead to quicker results than two a day over the course of a week. And if more than one employer responds? Choose the one you like best, of course.

Now that you know how to conduct this kind of search, it might help to review the reasons for doing it in the first place. If money isn’t tight, or the work wouldn’t be in your primary career area, taking a part-time or seasonal job might seem like an unnecessary complication, especially in a pandemic.

More about COVID19 in a minute, but first a reminder of the good things that can come from this kind of work engagement: An opportunity to experiment with different kinds of work, extra cash flow, access to product discounts or other perks, a boost to self-esteem, a sense of community, added work history to discuss in future interviews, and the potential for expansion into full-time or permanent employment, to name just a few.

In addition, those who are currently unemployed or have been out of the market for awhile could benefit from the added structure that a part-time job brings, as well as the opportunity to ease back into the workforce without a major commitment.

And what about working while the coronavirus is still a threat? A lot goes into that very personal decision, including your health and vaccination status, the kind of work you’re considering, and the risk of exposure you’d be encountering.

If COVID-19 is a primary concern, this might not be the right time for you to try this. On the other hand, if the idea of part-time or holiday work does appeal, don’t wait to get started. The season is short, and there’s always the risk that employers will eventually find other solutions to their staffing problems.