As retailers gear up for holiday shopping, some job hunters could get an early present this year in the form of seasonal jobs for the holidays. Competition for these jobs is fierce, and the Better Business Bureau recommends that applicants apply early and research potential employers.
Toys R Us has said it could hire up to 45,000 holiday employees. Other retailers could be hiring 20 or even 30 percent more seasonal staff than last year. According to the outsourcing firm Challenger, Gray, and Christmas, as many as 600,000 people are expected to get holiday jobs this year.
The BBB offers the following advice for job hunters this holiday season:
Start your job search earlier rather than later. Retail, shipping, restaurants and catering companies are common sources of seasonal employment. This is the time for job hunters to determine which job suits them best, identify companies they’d like to work for and then begin submitting applications and resumes.
Work where you shop. Try to identify seasonal employment opportunities at businesses where you shop. You will already be familiar with the company and its products, and discounts available to employees can mean significant savings when shopping for gifts. Discounts can range from 20-40 percent for seasonal employees.
Put your best foot forward. Even if you are just picking up applications at stores in the mall, dress neatly and be prepared for an interview. This includes being familiar with the company’s brand and products. Retail job hunters need to focus on impressing potential employers with their customer service skills because they may be dealing with stressed-out shoppers, long check-out lines and holiday returns.
Be flexible. Full-time employees usually have first choice on preferred hours and shifts. As a seasonal employee, you can expect to work long, sometimes inconvenient hours, possibly including Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve. If this is a second job in addition to your day job, be upfront and clear with your new employer about your available hours.
About the BBB
The Better Business Bureau, founded in 1912, is a champion for ethics and trust in the marketplace. Only businesses that meet the high BBB standards are invited to become BBB Accredited Businesses. Today, 123 BBBs across the United States and Canada rate more than 4 million local and national businesses and charities with scores ranging from A to F. Only a BBB Accredited Business may elect to participate in BBBOnLine, one of the most trusted and recognized Internet seal programs in the world.
The BBB serving Northern Colorado and Wyoming topped 1.1 million instances of service to consumers in the past 12 months. These services include reliability reports on local companies and charities, access to companies that can be trusted by industry, help with dispute resolution, and trustworthy information on consumer and business topics.
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Luanne Kadlub, BBB media relations manager, 970-488-2044 lkadlub@wynco.bbb.org