Seasonal Job Hiring: Tips and Strategies to Get You Hired
Publié le 29 July 2024
Find a good job with these tips and strategies to get you hired when seasonal job hiring.
When it comes to job hunting, full-time employment or part-time jobs are not the only options available to job seekers. For example, have you ever considered taking up seasonal work?
Whether to earn some extra cash, familiarize yourself with an industry you’re interested in, or learn some new skills while you’re trying to figure out your career path, seasonal jobs can be a great opportunity.
But what does “seasonal work” mean, exactly, and how can you land a seasonal job that suits you, your lifestyle, and your interests? Keep reading our comprehensive guide right here to find all of this out.
Defining Seasonal Work
As we mentioned, seasonal work is one of the different job types out there – but how do we classify it? Well, the actual definitions vary a bit. In the United States, for example, seasonal work includes jobs that occur around the same time each year and can last up to 12 months.
In other countries, however, seasonal work is seen a bit differently. In France, for instance, seasonal employees are offered permits that can last no more than six months over 12 consecutive months.
The common denominator, instead of being the length of the contract, is the fact that seasonal work occurs during particular times of the year. Usually, periods such as the summer holidays and Christmas are the hottest ones in terms of seasonal work. This is because most companies see a spike in customer demand, which leads them to hire extra employees in order to better manage the surge in work.
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Main Types of Seasonal Jobs
Not all seasonal jobs were created equal! There are lots of different seasonal job types out there, catering to all kinds of skills, interests, past experiences, and availability – find out some of the most popular ones below.
Retail
Sales jobs are one of the most common types of seasonal work, and consistently rank as one of the top seasonal work industries. These include anything from working in a small, local boutique to managing a large store over the Christmas holidays. Usually, retailers hire seasonal employees between fall and winter. These, in fact, are the typical times when shopping rates spike (think about Halloween, Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and Christmas).
When taking on a seasonal position in retail, you may end up doing anything from cashier work, to shelf stocking, to managing a store. Or you might even be able to find remote work opportunities, such as working as a content writer or marketing assistant for a large retail chain looking for an extra pair of hands to promote its products during peak times.
Farm and Agriculture
Another popular option for seasonal job seekers is farm work. Depending on the specific type of farm work that you’re interested in, you may be looking to be busy during the summer or at the beginning of fall.
Job availability, in fact, will be closely linked to things such as crop planting or harvesting, which only happen at very specific times of the year.
Hospitality and Tourism
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Do you pride yourself on your excellent customer service skills? A seasonal job in hospitality and tourism might be right up your street. As you might expect, in the US and Canada seasonal tourism jobs become more available during the summer months, when resorts, hotels, restaurants, and cafés experience skyrocketing customer demand.
Delivery Services
As of 2023, there were almost 1,500,00 people working in the US courier and delivery services industry, making it another popular choice when it comes to seasonal work, as well. While not strictly a seasonal type of job, in fact, delivery companies often experience higher demand during the holidays.
This, in turn, means that many of them seek temporary workers to accommodate these requirements and ensure that customers keep receiving the same high-quality service they’ve been used to at other times of the year.
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The Benefits of Seasonal Work for Jobseekers
Seasonal work has a wide range of benefits for people looking for temporary employment – let’s examine some of the main ones.
It Helps You Expand Your Work Experience
Whether you’re fresh out of college or simply don’t have a great deal of work experience to add to your resume, then seasonal employment can help students and new grads. Aside from teaching you new things, it can also allow you to expand your work experience and showcase your versatility and commitment to future employers, putting you in a much better position when seeking full-time employment.
It Caters to the Most Varied Schedules and Lifestyles
Are you a busy single mom? A new graduate sharing an apartment with a bunch of other students? Or, maybe, you simply like to set aside some time during the day to devote to your hobbies and passions. Whatever the reason, seasonal jobs can be a fantastic way to earn some cash while protecting your schedule and fitting in with your lifestyle.
And with diversity metrics becoming more and more important as companies strive to cater to a varied workforce, you should be able to find plenty of opportunities regardless of your specific circumstances and background.
It’s a Great Way to Boost your Main Income
Seasonal work is not just for people who don’t currently have a job. It’s also a brilliant option for those who need a temporary side hustle that can earn them some extra income. If you have a part-time job that leaves you with a few spare hours or days each week, for example, then taking on a seasonal position might be an easy, hassle-free way to boost your earnings for a while.
It may Evolve into Full-time Employment
What if you realize that what was supposed to be a six-month position is actually your dream job? Well, in some cases, seasonal contracts can get extended, which means that you might be able to continue working in a field that you enjoy, with people you like, and earning more money as you progress.
Seasonal Work: Best Practices to get Hired
Now you should have a much better understanding of what a seasonal job is, as well as the reasons why you might want to consider getting one in the near future. Now for the most important question: how do you succeed at finding a seasonal job that’s the right fit for you?
Apply for Jobs ASAP
If you thought that applying for a seasonal job was something best left until the season in question begins, then you need to think again. With the majority of employers beginning to list their openings way before the actual start dates, you’re much better off starting your job hunt in advance.
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Ask Around
Before jumping on job sites and job boards (our next tip), it’s worth asking around if anyone knows of any suitable seasonal work for you. Aside from checking with friends, family members, colleagues, and trusted acquaintances, be sure to update your LinkedIn profile with an “Open to work” badge as well as a public post alerting your contacts that you are searching for a seasonal job.
Have you found someone who might be able to help you get a seasonal job? Great, then chase them regularly so they remember to put you in touch with the relevant person. Don’t be afraid to schedule a quick call or send a follow-up email to find out any news.
Browse Job Sites
In some cases you might be able to find seasonal jobs on generic job boards and sites, but in others – such as farming – a more niche website might give you a wider range of options.
And remember to activate that job alert function! This will allow you to stay informed of any brand-new opportunities as they arise.
Use the Right Keywords
Once you have identified a few job sites and job boards that might yield good results, you need to become a bit of a detective. Don’t worry, it’s actually pretty simple; it just involves narrowing down your job search by using specific and relevant keywords and including them in your resume and cover letter.
For example, if you’re interested in working in the hospitality sector, you might want to use keywords such as “dining room service”, “summer job”, “seasonal job”, “temp job”, or “holiday hospitality job”.
Nail the Interview
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You’ve got your cover letter sorted, your resume all polished up, and you’ve applied for that seasonal job that looks like the perfect fit for you. And, guess what? They’ve called you in for an interview.
That’s great news, but you still have some homework to do before celebrating your new seasonal job. Arriving at the interview prepared, knowledgeable, and interested is fundamental as it shows your employer that you are taking this very seriously. Remember: seasonal work is pretty competitive. If your employer isn’t sure that you’ll be a good fit, there’s likely a long line of potential candidates right behind you.
Make sure, then, that you research the company ahead of the interview, as well as practice some common interview questions.
If, for example, you’re about to be interviewed for a temporary job at a recruitment call center, you should be able to answer basic questions such as “what is an omnichannel contact center?” as well as provide examples of your communication skills.
Similarly, don’t hold back from asking any questions: this is a conversation between two (or more) people, so interacting in a natural, yet professional, way is the best idea. For instance, if the interviewer at the imaginary recruitment call center job of our previous example starts talking about things like RPO metrics or using jargon, feel free to politely ask for clarification or explanation.
Be Serious and Professional
You might only be employed for a very short time, but this shouldn’t give you an excuse to perform poorly or demonstrate no interest in what you’re doing. After all, seasonal or not, you’re still getting paid and you’re still learning things and interacting with other people.
Maintain a serious, professional, and dedicated attitude throughout, and demonstrate that you have a good work ethic and that you can be trusted. Go the extra mile and familiarize yourself with the company’s standard operating procedures and policies to really show your ability to work efficiently and effectively.
You never know, your seasonal employer might end up providing stellar references that land you a dream job one day!
Be as Flexible as Possible
When you’re only working for short periods of time, it’s important that you maintain a flexible schedule and mindset. This will mean that you can make the most of however long you have at your seasonal job, especially if your employer needs some additional help throughout.
For this reason, it’s a good idea to inform other relevant people – both your family and any other employers you currently have – about your work schedule for the following weeks or months.
Keep Learning
With a seasonal job, it’s all too easy – and tempting – to brush it off as a “one-off”. After all, why should you invest too much of your time and energy into something that’s likely only going to last for a few weeks or months?
Well, the truth is that you should. First and foremost, you should view your seasonal job as a great opportunity to learn something new and useful that might come in handy in the future. The recruitment call center job from our earlier example? It might allow you to learn new things, such as selecting an ATS or the best way to use AI for hiring.
In addition to this, you’ll also have the possibility to practice and refine skills that you will then be able to incorporate into your resume – which stands you in good stead to advance in your career.
Seasonal Job Hiring: Key Takeaways
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If you’re not quite ready for full-time employment, then getting a seasonal job might be the right way to go. As we have seen in our guide, seasonal work can span anything from dining room service to delivery services, from store manager to farm worker.
If you follow the tips outlined in this article, you’ll have a much better chance of scoring the best seasonal job for you while maintaining your flexible schedule.
And remember, sign up for that job alert! This will let you be notified of the newest opportunities as soon as they become available.
