Seasonal hiring remains static, pay trending up in 2011
By Brent Rasmussen, president, CareerBuilder North America
The
holiday season is quickly approaching, and with it brings the
possibility of temporary opportunities for job seekers. With consumer
confidence falling in October*, retailers expect seasonal hiring to be
relatively on par with last year's numbers. According to CareerBuilder's
just released job forecast (see survey infographic here), 29 percent of retailers plan to employ extra help to weather the holiday season, down slightly from 33 percent in 2010.
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As
you might expect, customer service positions are the most in-demand,
but employers are looking to fill seasonal roles throughout their
organizations. When asked where their organizations needed workers this
holiday season, employers listed a variety of functional areas:
Although
seasonal hiring plans are expected to remain static compared to 2010,
the good news for job seekers is that employers who are hiring plan to
pay higher wages. Fifty-three percent of employers surveyed expect to
pay seasonal workers $10 or more an hour, and 14 percent expect to pay
$16 or more; this is up from 48 percent and 9 percent, respectively, in
2010.
While holiday jobs fill up quickly, it's not too late to
start applying. According to the survey, 33 percent of employers who are
hiring seasonal staff reported they are still recruiting for open
positions in November. Seasonal jobs can be found by searching career
websites, going directly to a company's "careers" page or checking out
specialized retail job boards, such as WorkInRetail.com.
Turning a seasonal position into a permanent one
Taking
a seasonal job can be advantageous for many reasons. It can help fill
an employment gap, teach new skills, expand your professional network
and, above all else, provide income even if only for a few months.
Unfortunately, for many workers a seasonal job is also a missed
opportunity. The CareerBuilder survey found that 30 percent of employers
plan to transition some employees they hire for the holidays into
full-time, permanent staff, yet workers don't always take the necessary
steps to turn their temporary job into a full-time one. Even in this
highly competitive market, you can stand out from your seasonal
co-workers by asserting yourself as the leading candidate for any
long-term opportunities.
Here are some ways you can tip the permanent hiring odds in your favor:
Make your intentions known from the start
If
you are going into a seasonal job hoping to turn it into a permanent
one, don't hesitate to tell your manager from the start. That way, he or
she is aware of your long-term professional goals and will know to keep
you in mind once a permanent position becomes available.
Provide above and beyond customer service
According
to the survey, 66 percent of hiring managers said workers who provide
above and beyond customer service will rise to the top of the long-term
candidate pool. In other words, don't just tell your boss you want to
stay with the company permanently, prove it. To ensure you're
top-of-mind, offer to help with something instead of waiting to be
asked, and treat customers with respect and kindness. Managers want to hire someone they can count on as well as someone they want to work with for 40 hours each week.
Be proactive, not passive
When
someone calls in sick or asks for a day off, volunteer to pick up the
additional shift. If you notice your boss is working on a project
outside of your day-to-day tasks, lend an extra hand. Forty-five percent
of hiring managers cite proactively asking for more projects as a good
way to get noticed for a full-time opportunity. The more projects you
work on and additional hours you log, the more exposure you'll get to
your manager and to the company's various functions.
Show you care about the company
Thirty-nine
percent of hiring managers said that if you're looking to turn your
temporary job into a full-time career, ask thoughtful questions about
the organization. Ask your employer about the company's values or what
he or she sees as the department's opportunities and challenges for the
coming year. By doing so, you'll demonstrate that you're invested and
genuinely interested in the company and are looking for ways to
contribute beyond your original role.
Prove you are forward-thinking
Without
being presumptuous, show your employer you're already thinking long
term by suggesting ways a process can be more efficient or sharing ideas
on new initiatives to try. Regardless of whether your suggestions are
implemented, speaking up will prove to your employer that you are
thoughtful, have interesting ideas and -- if permanently hired -- will
make positive contributions to the company.
As a person who just got hired, after actively looking for a new job since May, I understand and respect the fact that finding a new job is far easier said than done. After all, no one can make someone else hire them. I also understand and respect the fact that in the U.S. unemployment is still at 9%. Although I confess to total ignorance of what the Global Unemployment rate is, I confess even greater ignorance to the unemployment rates of any country other than my own--the U.S.A. Right now, I am just hoping and praying to be able to pass on some information that by some 'wing or a prayer' might actually help someone, anyone who needs a job to find a job at least one person somewhere, anywhere, on this planet we call Earth, Lord Help me, Jesus.
