My Recruiting Blog

For many job seekers, the coming of the holiday season signifies increasing difficulty in their job search. Fourth quarter hiring trends tend to show decrease in available jobs in most industries. Since fewer positions are available, hiring managers have the responsibility of sifting through even larger than normal resume piles.

This added competition for a smaller number of jobs online means many individuals could begin the New Year unemployed. Although this may make deciding upon a New Year’s resolution easy, it can certainly make the holidays more difficult.

Those struggling to find employment would be wise to separate their job search effort into two categories; permanent employment and the immediate. Although the holidays may make it more difficult to find full-time employment, temporary positions are more abundant.

Seasonal employment is most apparent in the retail industry. With Americans spending more this time of year than in any other season, retailers have to bulk up their staffs in hops of being able to meet the demands of holiday shoppers.

Many pre-Black Friday reports showed that retailers, underestimation this year’s holiday spending, did not expect to hire as many seasonal employees as they normally would. But with more shoppers showing up and spending more than originally planned for, many retailers will likely make last minute hiring decisions, adding on extra seasonal staff.

For those already searching for entry level retail jobs, such positions, if handled correctly, can be made into permanent employment. Others may see such seasonal retail employment as a way to make it through the holidays.

But retail positions are not the only temporary jobs to be had at the moment. For various reasons, from illness to holiday travel, many employers are struggling to conduct offices without full staffs. A good number of these employers contact staff agencies in hopes of finding immediate fill-ins for absentee workers. Those who are currently having trouble finding a job should consider contacting such agencies. In most cases, these places can help workers with both temporary and full-time jobs.

Those who do find temporary employment this way may also find themselves in the position to learn about future positions that are expected to be created or become available at the company they temp at. Those who prove themselves to be good workers temporary situations, may find their resume on top when they later apply for a full time job with the same company.

Labels: temp jobs