Seasonal Employment Can Lead to Permanent Jobs

You can turn a seasonal position into a permanent job if you know where to look, how to get hired and how to conduct yourself on the job. Here are some quick tips for finding a seasonal job and then turning that temporary position into an ongoing job.

Where to Look for Seasonal Jobs

Although employers start hiring as early as October for seasonal jobs, there are still openings in December. Encouragingly, an increased number of employers (40%, up from 31% in 2009) are planning to transition some of their seasonal help into full-time, permanent employees. According to a recent CareerBuilder survey, the five top areas to look for work are:

-       Retail sales (33 percent)

-       Customer service (31 percent)

-       Administrative/clerical support (17 percent)

-       Shipping and delivery (12 percent)

-       Hospitality (10 percent)

Check with these types of employers in your geographic area to find out about openings. You can also use websites such as SnagaJob.com.

How to Get and Keep a Job

Here are some tips from employers for standing out from other applicants, and for positioning yourself as an employee who is too valuable to let go at the end of the season.

To get hired:

-       Follow the dress code. Look like someone who works there, or one step up in appearance. If employees wear khakis and a polo shirt, you could wear khakis, a shirt and tie, for example.

-       Research the company ahead of time. Learn about the business and its products and services. Find out its mission statement and its corporate values. Communicating some of what you have learned about the company during the interview will help you distinguish yourself from other applicants.

-       Prepare for your interview. See Preparing for Your Interview "Test" and "Ten Ways to Mess Up a Job Interview" for suggestions on acing your interview.

-       Be enthusiastic about the company and the opportunity to work there. No one wants to hire someone who seems indifferent, apathetic or bored. A lack of enthusiasm in applicants is the number one complaint of hiring managers.

Once you are hired:

-       Be on time and don't miss work unless absolutely necessary. If you have to be late or miss work, give your employer as much notice as possible. Do whatever you can to make sure the employer is not put in a bind due to your absence.

-       Demonstrate a positive, diligent work ethic. Offer help to your employer or customers without being asked for it. Look for extra things you can do on the job. Don't slack off just because no one is looking or checking up on you; give 110% to your work at all times.

-       Be proactive. Seek to learn new skills that increase your value to the employer. Ask for new projects and responsibilities. Look for problems that you can help solve for the employer. Ask questions about the company to help you learn more about your job and the business. Offer suggestions for improving the workplace, and offer to be part of implementing your suggestions. In doing these types of things, you will become an increasingly valuable asset to the company.

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If you would like professional assistance with your job search, we invite you to look into our career coaching services. After reading about our services, you can schedule a free consultation session to discuss which career services would best meet your needs. We would consider it a privilege to help you discover who God has created you to be and what He has designed you to do!  

© Article copyright by Kevin and Kay Marie Brennfleck, www.ChristianCareerCenter.com. All rights reserved. The above information is intended for personal use only. No commercial use of this information is authorized without written permission.

Kevin Brennfleck and Kay Marie Brennfleck, National Certified Career Counselors, are the authors of Live Your Calling: A Practical Guide to Finding and Fulfilling Your Mission in Life. Their websites, www.ChristianCareerCenter.com, www.ChurchJobsOnline.com, and www.ChristianJobFair.com, feature hundreds of job listings from churches, ministries, and Christian employers; a resume bank; and many other career/job search resources and articles. They also offer career coaching and testing to help you discover work that fits your God-given design, as well as assistance with writing a powerful resume, interviewing effectively, finding job openings, and other aspects of a successful job search.  You can schedule a career services consultation today!