Workplace
A job for the holidays
A free daily digest of the biggest news stories of the day - and the best features from our website
Thank you for signing up to TheWeek. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
If a child or other family member is counting on a seasonal job to boost the family bank account, tell them to act fast, said Kelli B. Grant in SmartMoney. High unemployment combined with consumer belt-tightening has made landing a job tougher this holiday season. Don’t waste time applying online. Instead, target favorite stores—ones at which the employee discounts seem appealing—and apply in person. “Businesses looking for help may conduct an interview on the spot if they see a good candidate, so dress appropriately even if you’re just there to pick up an application.” Flexibility is also important. Be prepared to work holidays, evenings, or even “the dreaded overnight shift.”
Don’t limit a search to brick-and-mortar retailers, said Anne Fisher in Fortune. Online retailers, movie theaters, shipping companies, and caterers all beef up staff in anticipation of a holiday rush. “Got a head for figures?” Tax-preparation companies start training new hires in November, and tax season stretches all the way to April. Many firms offer the best employees permanent positions once it’s over: Just be clear up front if you’re hoping a seasonal job may turn into something more. “You don’t want to be a nag about it,” says Shawn Boyer, CEO of SnagAJob.com, “but you need to plant that seed.”
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Continue reading for free
We hope you're enjoying The Week's refreshingly open-minded journalism.
Subscribed to The Week? Register your account with the same email as your subscription.
Sign up to our 10 Things You Need to Know Today newsletter
A free daily digest of the biggest news stories of the day - and the best features from our website
-
Boys from the Blackstuff review
A 'powerful' adaptation of Alan Bleasdale's 'masterpiece'
By The Week Staff Published
-
10 things you need to know today: September 28, 2023
Daily Briefing Republican rivals clash as absent Trump tries to upstage debate, the Senate approves a formal dress code, and more
By Harold Maass Published
-
Book bans
Cartoons
By The Week Staff Published