Money Fix: Look for seasonal jobs beyond retail

What a coincidence. Just as consumers -- comparing expected holiday spending to their possibly underfunded bank accounts -- recognize the need for added income, a number of employers are in the market for seasonal help.

Retail outlets may be the first venues that come to mind, but don't stop there in a search for a short-term job, says Chris Campisi, metro market manager based in the Uniondale office of Robert Half International, a staffing firm.

Year-end needs: Campisi says he sees an uptick in need for data processors and other clerical staff at organizations now involved in open enrollment for employee benefit selection, as well as those doing year-end budgeting. And, he says, employers are looking for receptionists and customer-service types to fill in for staffers who schedule vacation this time of year.

Holiday: A check of major job boards for the Long Island area found ads for a gift wrapper, retail manager, package handlers, and a number of seasonal drivers for a major ground delivery company. Look, too, to area mom-and-pop stores, restaurants, caterers, and event planning venues, says John A. Challenger, chief executive of Challenger, Gray & Christmas, a Chicago-based outplacement firm.

Next year: If now is not a good time, keep an eye out for seasonal opportunities that may not start until after the first of the year, as "tax time is right around the corner," says Campisi. That means opportunities for tax preparers, greeters and clerical support staff at area accounting firms and tax preparers.