Seasonal job opportunities
The seasonal store: “Spirit Halloween” (Alana Moscoso, The Puma Prensa)
Written By: Alana Moscoso, staff writer
As a chill settles in and the scent of cinnamon wafts through the air, it is clear that the holiday season is upon us. As the holidays approach, many businesses ramp up their hiring to meet the demands of potential consumers. This creates many seasonal job openings, which can offer employees a solid paycheck and work experience, especially for high school students. Some typical seasonal jobs would be positions as a lifeguard, ski resort staff, camp counselor, or retail worker. Still, whether it’s working at Spirit Halloween or as a delivery driver, seasonal jobs are precious experiences. They can offer many benefits for those new to the workforce or even those experienced.
Seasonal jobs are temporary positions businesses offer, oftentimes during the holidays or summertime. Since they’re short-term and don’t require a considerable time commitment, seasonal jobs are ideal for students. Junior Macs Evans explains that if you have a seasonal job, “you only work for a few months out of the year, usually when the company needs more employees for busier seasons.” Evans was recently hired to work at Hot Topic and provided some insight into their experience with the hiring process. “[My position] is from November to January, so that covers Black Friday, Christmas, Thanksgiving, and New Year's.”
Getting hired for a seasonal job is similar to any other hiring process, which includes the initial application, interview process, and, if you’re lucky, the job offer. Evans recounted their experience as “similar to any other job. [He] had an interview with the assistant manager and then the store manager a week later before being told that [he] got the job.” While most aspects of this process are no different from the normal hiring process, one factor is often unalike. “My start date was about two months from my hire date. That is a big difference between seasonal jobs [and full-time jobs]; they aren’t always hiring for an immediate start.” This is especially true considering seasonal jobs usually hire for work during the holiday season, so those applying and interviewing during any other time should expect a bit of a wait before they begin working.
There are many pros to working a seasonal job, as mentioned before. Seasonal jobs can introduce people to specific competing fields without having to commit to them fully. Moreover, working hours are more flexible because they aren’t full-time jobs, and seasonal jobs can be great to add to a resume. However, there are some cons as well. The main con is that if you decide to work a seasonal job during the holiday season, you will be expected to work on those holidays. While temporary, seasonal jobs are a pro, they can also be seen as a con if you prefer to work long-term or are looking for certain employee benefits. They often don’t include health insurance, paid time off, or other benefits that full-time employees would receive.
Overall, there are many benefits to working a seasonal job, and it could be the right choice depending on your needs or wants. When asked if they would recommend a seasonal job, Evans said, "[he] would recommend seasonal jobs if someone is looking for a low commitment. They’re also good for students who have time off to work.” Since the holiday season is approaching, it's a good idea to start applying now if this sounds right for you.