Tips to getting that holiday job: Be proactive
Shoppers do some last-minute holiday shopping at Roosevelt Field Mall in Garden City. (Dec. 21, 2009) Credit: John Dunn
WASHINGTON - With 15 million Americans looking for work, standing out from the crowd can be a challenge. Gracie Pimentel, branch manager of a professional staffing firm in Florida, says the key to landing a permanent job is to make the most of a temporary one.
To get - and keep - a job this holiday season, hiring experts suggest that job seekers:
Get social. Many companies require job seekers to apply online. UPS workforce planning manager Matt Lavery says 95 percent of the company's ads for its 50,000 job openings this holiday season will appear on the Internet. The shipper is on all the major job-hunting websites, but it also has begun getting the word out through social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
Dress to impress. Even if you're just picking up an application, dress your best and be prepared for an interview, advises Claire Rosenzweig, president and chief executive of the Better Business Bureau Serving Metropolitan New York. Retail job hunters in particular need to focus on impressing potential employers with their customer service skills - a must when dealing with stressed-out holiday shoppers, she adds.
Work where you shop. Try to get a job with businesses you frequent, the BBB suggests, as you will already be familiar with the company and its products. Also, employee discounts can mean big savings when shopping for gifts.
Ask questions. The best employees don't just do what they're told - they want to understand why and seek ways to improve on processes and add value, experts say. That proactive approach makes them more valuable to employers and more likely to stay on once the holiday rush is over.
Tell employers what you want. Lisa Bordinat, senior vice president at consulting firm Aon Hewitt, suggests letting your bosses know you want to be considered for permanent work. Ask what skills you'll need to keep the job and how you can develop them.
Be flexible. Full-timers usually have first dibs on the preferred hours and shifts. So as a seasonal employee, expect to work long, sometimes inconvenient hours. If you have another job, be upfront about what shifts you can work.
Be patient. Don't despair if the position doesn't become permanent. Lavery of UPS said the problem often is a lack of open positions, not poor job performance. As slots become available, he said managers often will turn first to stellar holiday workers.
