Holiday Job Search Strategies – It’s Not Too Early!

It’s October and everyone’s thoughts are turning to Christmas! Well, not the trick-or-treaters, but certainly the retailers and those seeking holiday jobs. For millions of job seekers, the opportunity to get a foot in the door through a part-time job greatly improves the chance of keeping it, or at least being able to make a good impression, develop relationships and get positioned for future openings.

The 2011 holiday job news is currently a mixed bag. According to a recent Challenger Gray & Christmas study, hiring will be the same as, or slightly lower than 2010. However, those jobs will be harder to secure as the unemployed, employed and college students on break compete to help with the holiday bills. That translates to a lot of applicants early in the game. So if you want a job this holiday season, you need a holiday job search strategy now!

Who’s Hiring?

Don’t overlook the opportunity for a holiday job just because you are not interested in a long term career in retail sales or logistics. Do your homework on the companies that are hiring and look beyond the current title. Ask yourself, "Does this organization offer the potential of a position in the field I’m interested in?" If the answer is yes, perhaps the holiday job could be a path to the position you’re really after.

Considering companies that hire seasonal workers often leads people to think about retail and shipping companies. Companies like Macy’s, Toys R Us and Best Buy are all hiring this year. And yes, shipping, packaging and delivery companies are working harder than ever as on-line sales are increasing, so don’t overlook companies like UPS and FedEx.

But there also may be openings in companies associated with tourism and hospitality that you should investigate. The tourism industry usually experiences a high volume of travelers during the winter months. If you’re lucky enough to live in a "destination" location, perhaps working at a hotel or resort might be a possibility during the holidays.

Something else to consider is that many employees take vacations during the holidays and that spells O-P-P-O-R-T-U-N-I-T-Y for the individuals registered with temporary staffing agencies. Temp work is an especially good idea if your talents and passions align with office-related functions, industrial labor, healthcare or technology.

If you’re interested in researching a few companies that are hiring this season, check out this article offered by Main Street.

Strategy Tips

I’m assuming that all active job seekers are already familiar with these job search tips, but it never hurts to revisit some best practices. If you’re just looking for a holiday position, incorporate these points into your holiday job search strategy:

1. Start early! Most companies hiring for the holidays will probably not be accepting applications after October. Remember, they’re going to get A LOT of applications that they’re going to have to sort through – get your application and resume in as soon as possible.  
2. Be neat and accurate – Most employers will request the completion of an on-line application. Before clicking on "Submit," be sure to re-read your information to ensure that it is accurate, with no typos or misspellings. If you do need to complete a paper application, be careful that your penmanship is neat and readable. Take your time and avoid mistakes that you will need to cross through. And it goes without saving but I’ll note it anyway – if a resume is required, ensure that yours is professional, error-free, looks good and highlights why you are the best candidate for the job.
3. In person – If possible, print out your application and take it, along with your resume, to the store where you want to be hired and introduce yourself to the store manager. Let the manager know that you are interested and excited about the opportunity to work for the store and that you completed the on-line process. Explain that you want to introduce yourself so he/she will know who you are when your application is forwarded by their recruiters. Share some of the highlights about why you will be a great match for the position and inquire about the process going forward. Make sure you get a business card from the manager and write a personal thank you note thanking him/her for taking the time to talk with you. Re-emphasize your interest in working for him/her and re-iterate that you’ll be following up.
4. Research – Most organizations today complain that candidates looking for work have not done their research on the company. Companies report that candidates are clueless when asked about the company’s purpose, values, markets, and clientele. Don’t make that mistake. 
5. Show enthusiasm – Most holiday positions will be dealing with customers, so demonstrate your enthusiasm about the company and its products, as well as your abilities to properly interact with and take care of customers. Let them see that your personality is just what they need on the team.
6. Look and act the part – During your research you should identify how individuals are expected to dress for work at this company. For your interview you should dress at least one level above everyday expectations. At a minimum, dress pants, a nice shirt and a tie for men, and dress pants and jacket, dress, or suit for women. Of course, shoes should be appropriate and shined. No baseball hats, even if that’s the everyday norm. And, until you have the job, be careful about showing tattoos and piercings. One last tip: be aware that if you are wearing clothing, shoes, jewelry, etc. offered by a competitor that won’t earn you any points.
7. Use all your job search avenues – On-line job postings are just one of the avenues open to job seekers. Don’t overlook opportunities available through social media sites such as LinkedIn, or the classified ads, openings your network may know of, or the old fashioned walk-in strategy – keep your eyes open for "Help Wanted" signs, especially those put out by small businesses.
8. Treat the opportunity like a full-time job – Sometimes you have to "fake" it for people to believe it and give you what you want. Treat the job like you are already a full-time employee. Be on time. Show that you are self-motivated. Ask questions and offer recommendations for improving processes and saving money. Go beyond the seasonal job description expectations. 
9. Don’t get discouraged – With all that competition, not everyone is going to get hired. But don’t despair. If you are turned down for the job, go back to the company after a week or so and inquire if there are any openings. Remember, everyone that gets hired isn’t going to last. If you come in smiling and ready to step in and save them from going back through all those applicants, it might be a win/win for everyone.
10. Say thanks – While working the part-time job, expand your network. Before the job assignment is over, ask your manager for a letter of recommendation. It doesn’t hurt to ask, and the recommendation may help you with the next interview. When the assignment ends, write a thank you note to your manager thanking him/her for the opportunity and establishing your interest to stay in touch and periodically inquire about future job openings. Persistence is often the name of the game.

Between October and December approximately 600,000 positions will be filled by temporary workers. While you’re looking for a seasonal position, keep your full-time job search active. The end of the year usually brings with it a workforce evaluation process which often results in openings to be filled. You just never know where the next opportunity will be.

Keep your spirits up and continue to surround yourself with positive individuals that care about you and want to help you succeed.

For more information on career search strategies check out my website, my book, Position Your Next Move for a Successful Job Search or contact me regarding personalized career coaching (770.587.9032).

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Q&A

I’ve been out of work for over a year. What suggestions do you have for reigniting my job search? It just seems like I keep finding doors I can’t open! It’s frustrating, knowing that I was successful with my past employer and the only reason I’m out of work is because the company closed due to the recession.

Sean

Check out Dear Jobseeker for my answer to Sean's question.