Think holiday hiring starts after Halloween? Think again. If you want a seasonal job this year, the time to start looking isn’t next month. It’s right now! So how early should you actually start? Let’s look at one of the clearest examples from CEO Carol Tomé, from UPS, who knows a thing or two about that timing during the holidays.
This same time last year, Tomé said UPS was already “positioned to run the most efficient peak in our history.” Think about what that means for your job search. By the time most of us are thinking about Thanksgiving dinner and Black Friday shopping, employers are talking about being positioned and all ready for peak season.
So, that’s your cue! If you want extra income, new experience or a seasonal position that could potentially open another door, waiting until the holidays feel close could mean entering the search after employers have already started building their teams. Here are five things you can do today to jump-start your holiday job search and get ahead of the rush.
1. Start Looking Now, Not When Holiday Hiring Feels Urgent
The first thing you can do is also the easiest: start. You don’t have to accept a job today, but you should know what opportunities are out there. By the time “holiday hiring” signs seem to be everywhere, you may be competing with a much larger pool of people who had exactly the same idea. Starting now gives you time to compare employers, responsibilities and schedules instead of scrambling for whatever happens to still be available later.
As Jeff Straub, Co-Founder of Catalyst Career Group, explains, “Seasonal hiring is often about timing. The earlier employers and candidates connect, the more opportunity there is to find the right fit before the holiday rush begins.”
2. Decide What You Actually Want Before You Apply
Don’t waste your head start by firing your resume at every seasonal opening you find. Decide what would actually work for you. Do you want part-time or full-time hours? Can you work evenings or weekends? Are you looking to make as much extra money as possible before the end of the year, or would you prefer a position that gives you experience in an industry you’re interested in?
Knowing those answers makes it easier to recognize the right opportunity when you see it. It also helps you have a much better conversation with a recruiter because you can explain what you can do, when you’re available and what you’re looking for.
Catalyst Co-Founder Jeff Naugle says, “If you know you’re available for the season, there’s value in getting into the conversation early.”
3. Look Beyond the Typical Holiday Job
If “seasonal job” immediately makes you picture folding sweaters at the mall until Christmas Eve, think bigger. Retail is certainly part of holiday hiring, but seasonal opportunities can also show up in sales, customer service, hospitality, food service, warehousing and fulfillment, transportation and delivery, administrative support and other industries.
Think about the skills you already have and where they might be valuable rather than limiting yourself to the jobs you traditionally associate with the holidays. Catalyst Career Group works with companies across industries through its job fairs, which means talking with employers directly could introduce you to a company or position you never would have thought to type into a job-search website.
4. Think Beyond the Holiday Paycheck
Maybe your only goal is making some extra money before the holidays. There’s nothing wrong with that. But a temporary position could potentially give you something else, too: recent experience for your resume, new skills, professional connections and a chance to show an employer what you can actually do.
This is one place where Tomé’s perspective on talent is especially relevant for job seekers. When discussing how UPS evaluates people for advancement, she explained that the company traditionally put significant weight on tenure and seniority, but added, “I think talent matters more.” That’s a useful reminder when you’re considering a seasonal opportunity. Getting your foot in the door gives you the chance to demonstrate what you can do, how you work and the value you can bring to an employer.
Depending on an employer’s future needs, seasonal work may sometimes lead to additional opportunities, although there’s never a guarantee that a temporary position will become permanent.
As Naugle explains, “A seasonal role can be valuable experience, especially when it gives someone the chance to show an employer how they work.”
So think about the paycheck, but also ask yourself a bigger question: What could you walk away with in January that you don’t have today?
5. Stop Hiding Behind the “Apply” Button
Yes, apply online. But don’t assume submitting an application and waiting is the only way to get hired. One of the fastest ways to learn what employers actually need is to talk to them.
Catalyst Career Group hosts in-person and virtual job fairs where you can connect directly with recruiters and hiring managers from companies that are actively looking for people. Bring an updated resume and come prepared to ask about start dates, schedules, seasonal openings and opportunities that may extend beyond the holidays. You’re trying to get hired, but you’re also interviewing the employer. Is this actually a job you want? A direct conversation can help you figure that out much faster than reading another job description online.
Your Holiday Job Search Starts Today
Halloween hasn’t happened. Thanksgiving still feels far away. Black Friday may not even be on your radar yet. Good. That’s the advantage. The companies preparing for the holiday season aren’t waiting for the holidays to arrive, and neither should you.
You don’t need to have everything figured out today. You just need to make your first move. Update your resume, decide what you want, broaden your search and start talking with employers while you still have time and choices. The goal isn’t simply to find a holiday job. It’s to put yourself in a position to find the right opportunity before the holiday hiring rush is in full swing.
Ready to start? Catalyst Career Group brings job seekers and hiring employers together through in-person and virtual job fairs across the country. Check the upcoming job fair schedule from across the country, bring your resume and start the conversation now, both in-person and online. CCG also offers private hiring events and recruiter services.
Contact Catalyst Career Group at (815) 308-5426 or visit the Catalyst Career Group website to learn more.
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Contact Catalyst Career Group at (815) 308-5426 or use the form at https://catalystcareergroup.com/contact/.