NEARLY ONE-IN-FIVE EMPLOYERS PLAN TO HIRE SEASONAL
October 22, 2009
CHICAGO, October 21, 2009 – The outlook for seasonal hiring in the fourth quarter of
2009 is projected to be similar to 2008, according to a new CareerBuilder survey. Eighteen
percent of hiring managers plan to hire seasonal workers to meet business needs associated
with the holidays and end-of-the-year wrap-ups, on par with 17 percent in 2008. At the same
time, competition for holiday work is heating up. In addition to unemployed workers
pursuing seasonal employment, 12 percent of employed workers plan to take on a seasonal
job to help make ends meet. The survey, “Seasonal Hiring 2009,” was conducted from
August 20 to September 9, 2009 and included over 2,900 hiring managers across all
industries nationwide.
Popular Seasonal Positions
Seasonal positions may prove to be the break job seekers are looking for as three-in-ten
(31 percent) hiring managers indicate they are likely to hire a seasonal worker for a full time
position. The most popular positions identified for seasonal recruitment include customer
service, retail sales, administrative/clerical, hospitality, shipping/delivery, inventory,
technology and accounting/finance. Of those hiring seasonal employees in Q4 2009,
41 percent will hire 1 to 10 employees, 17 percent will hire 11 to 20, 17 percent will hire 21
to 50 and 25 percent will hire more than 50.
Seasonal Pay
While some hiring managers (12 percent) say they plan to increase pay for seasonal workers,
15 percent are planning a decrease. Forty-four percent of hiring managers expect to pay $10
or more per hour and 12 percent expect to pay $16 or more per hour. Thirty-four percent of
hiring managers plan to pay between $8 and $10 per hour and 20 percent expect to pay
between $6 and $8.
“Competition for seasonal positions will be intense as the job market is flooded with
qualified candidates vying for a smaller number of open positions,” said
Brent Rasmussen, President of CareerBuilder North America. “Employers tell us they are
accepting the majority of their seasonal applications during October and November, meaning
job seekers need to identify and apply for those opportunities now.”
Rasmussen recommends the following tips for those seeking seasonal employment:
• Start applying early – Seventy-seven percent of hiring managers do not plan toaccept applications for seasonal workers beyond November. Especially in a
competitive job market, getting your resume in early will help your chances of
securing a position.
• Do your homework – Nearly a quarter (24percent) of hiring managers say that
having no knowledge of the company or products deterred them from hiring a
seasonal candidate in the past. Check out the company’s Web site before the
interview and familiarize yourself with products, services, press announcements, etc
so the hiring manager knows you’re serious about the opportunity.
• Show enthusiasm — Nearly half (48 percent) of employers say they were turned off
by a candidate who lacked enthusiasm during their interview. Convey that you’re
excited about the opportunity to contribute to the success of the organization and stay
away from saying the primary reason you want the position is for the employee
discount.
• Dress the part — If you are interviewing for a job in a retail clothing store, it’s a good
idea to show up dressed in an outfit from that store. One-in-ten (11 percent) hiring
managers said candidates who interviewed for a job in a competitor’s ensemble were
ultimately not considered for the open position.
• Be flexible regarding your schedule – Forty-seven percent of hiring managers said
they were turned off by a candidate who refused to work certain hours. Seasonal
hours tend to fluctuate; you need to be open and flexible to alternative schedules.
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