More employers plan to turn a seasonal gig into a full-time, permanent position
When looking at functional areas within an office or store, popular areas for recruitment this holiday season include:
Customer Service
Administrative/Clerical support
Shipping/Delivery
Accounting/Finance
Inventory management
Technology
Sales (other than retail)
Companies are hiring more and paying more
More than six-in-ten (62 percent) employers plan to pay holiday staff $10 or more an hour in 2012. Twenty-three percent will pay $16 or more.
Don't wait to get a seasonal gig
While holiday jobs fill up quickly, 39 percent of employers who are hiring seasonal staff reported they hire in November, while hiring falls off in December (17 percent).
More employers plan to turn a seasonal gig into a full-time, permanent position. Thirty-one percent of employers who are hiring seasonal help plan to transition some employees into full-time, permanent staff. To stand out as a candidate for a long-term opportunity, hiring managers recommended the following:
- Provide above and beyond customer service. Offer help instead of waiting to be asked for it
- Proactively ask for more projects
- Let the employer know up front that you're interested in permanent employment
- Present ideas on how to do something better or try something new
- Ask thoughtful questions about the organization
What are the biggest turnoffs for employers when interviewing for seasonal jobs? A lack of flexibility or expressed interest top the list, according to employers surveyed.
Someone who isn't enthusiastic
Someone who is unwilling to work certain hours
Someone who knows nothing about company/products
Someone who is more interested in the discount than anything else
TIPS FOR TAKING A HOLIDAY JOB PERMANENT!
1. Treat this opportunity as if it was an extended job interview. Be enthusiastic about the job. Treat the part-time job or your contract assignment as a full-time position. That means you should go the extra mile by coming in early or offering to stay late. Show commitment, enthusiasm and flexibility will help you transition it into a full-time position.
2. No matter what your assignment, take it seriously. Too often temps treat a job as temporary and don't take it seriously enough. If you want to get hired, you've got to do more than show up. You've got to consistently be of service to the people you are working for in order for them to feel they can't live without you. That means not only doing what you're told but anticipating your boss's needs and proactively offering help and/or ideas.
3. Show your value. No matter what profession your job is in, there's always a way to prove your value whether that's through established metrics like sales goals or forging strong relationships with key decision makers. When the time comes for your review, you'll have lots of hard evidence that you're a valuable asset to the team
More info at careerbuilder.com
