Why you may want to consider a seasonal job

The coronavirus pandemic continues to change what people do and how companies operate. Yet, businesses ranging from delivery services to big retailers are still expecting people to carry on as usual in at least one area of their lives as the end of the year approaches — shopping. As a result, employers are looking for hundreds of thousands of seasonal workers to meet those demands.

Seasonal jobs may be tempting to job seekers for a number of reasons. A job — even a temporary one — can bring in some needed income, for example. Seasonal jobs can also be a foot in the door at a target company. These positions can also help shake up people’s routines after months of unemployment.

Seasonal and holiday jobs are not for everyone, though. You need to know how they fit into your overall job search and career goals before going after one.

Where are seasonal jobs?

One of the first things to know about seasonal jobs is that many are clustered in just a few industries. New LinkedIn data* show that nearly 61% of jobs with titles containing “seasonal” listed by the end of September of this year are in the retail industry — a roughly 26 percentage points increase over 2019. About 16% are in the software & IT services industry and roughly 11% are in transportation and logistics.

While the share of seasonal jobs shifted a bit by industry over the past year, the new data show the types of short-term jobs didn’t shift that much during the same time period. Package delivery, cashier, retail associate, receiver and stocker are still among the most in-demand seasonal jobs of 2020.

Who should consider a seasonal job?

While most of these seasonal jobs are clustered in industries that may not pay a lot of money, they can still be attractive to many job seekers, said Tristan Layfield, who is the head career coach and owner of Layfield Resume Consulting.

“When it comes to seasonal jobs — especially at this moment, people have their unemployment run out or they’re tired of being cooped up in their house,” he told me. “They want something that helps them get out of the house and gets their minds off their current situation.”

Yet, it doesn’t mean you should automatically run out to get a seasonal job or accept any that present themselves. 

First, it’s very important to know how any type of employment — short-term or full-time — affects the unemployment benefits you may be receiving from the government. Plus, keep in mind that the majority of these jobs are low-wage and do not come with benefits, such as health and retirement.

Second, Layfield said it’s important to know what you’d want to get out of a seasonal job. “You still want to be as strategic as possible when thinking about seasonal jobs.”

A person who enjoys customer service or someone who is looking to brush up on their people skills may consider and benefit from taking a retail job, for example. People who are looking to move into logistics or operations could also gain experience by taking a seasonal job in that area. Of course, people looking to get into specific companies may also be able to do so as a seasonal employee.

“Sometimes you just have to take a job,” said Layfield. “That’s a reality that happens and it’s OK.”

Can you turn a seasonal job into a full-time position?

People who hope to turn a seasonal job into a full-time position should keep in mind that it’s not always possible for companies to keep people on after a contract has ended — especially in such an uncertain time. There are a few things you can do while you’re a seasonal worker to increase the odds of being kept on full-time, though.

“You really want to be punctual and reliable in this seasonal job and be flexible with scheduling,” said Layfield. “Develop the relationship and be the person they can depend on and bring on full time. Work as if you’re a full-time employee and don’t let your productivity drop off.”

He also said that you’ll need to be entrepreneurial if you want to be successful since many seasonal employees don’t get extensive training for their positions. “You’ll need to use your problem-solving skills and stay motivated on your own.”

If becoming a full-time employee is your ultimate goal, Layfield said it’s also crucial to network while you’re a seasonal employee at the company.

“You can network with people in management or leadership while you’re there,” he said. “Understand how the company moves and what they’re looking for and look for more permanent roles while you’re a seasonal employee.”

How do seasonal jobs factor into a larger job search?

Even if you don’t want to stay at an employer after your seasonal contract ends or that’s not an option, Layfield said it pays to network with your coworkers while in these roles.

“We’re going to have people in these frontline roles who are not normally in these positions,” he said.

People who were hiring managers elsewhere — and will likely be again in the future — may be taking seasonal jobs for the same reason as others during these challenging times. Layfield said building a strong network among coworkers can pay dividends in the future when these people get hired elsewhere.

As for explaining your seasonal job to potential employers, he said the key is to show how that temporary role helped bolster existing skills or helped you gain new skills. You can also explain how it helped you grow as a person and how it relates to the job you want.

“I’m hoping that many companies and organizations will be more open and receptive to seasonal jobs given the state of the job market and economy overall,” he said.

Of course, you also shouldn’t stop job searching for a permanent role if you take a temporary gig. 

You can consider seasonal jobs at other times, too

While we’re most likely to hear about seasonal jobs at the end of the year, it’s important to remember that busy seasons vary by industry. LinkedIn data show that there was a surge in U.S. seasonal positions in June because of the delayed tax due date. At that time, about 53% of seasonal jobs were clustered in the software and IT services industry — a nearly 39 percentage point jump over the previous year — because tax-preparation software companies were hiring certified public accountants for short periods of time to help handle the workload.

As with seasonal jobs posted at the end of the year, you should still determine if taking one is the right path for you and whether it fits into your overall job search.

What are your thoughts about accepting a seasonal position? Join the conversation.

* Methodology: 

This analysis considers all open US premium jobs on LinkedIn platform.

Seasonal jobs are defined as jobs with titles explicitly containing “seasonal”. Industry share in seasonal jobs is the percentage of all seasonal jobs in one specific company industry group among all seasonal jobs.

(A very big thank you to Yi Su and Jenny Ying, LinkedIn data scientists, for crunching the numbers on seasonal jobs for us.)

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? The follow-up

Networking is one of the most important elements of a job search. Yet, the pandemic paralyzed some people who didn’t know how to navigate the new online reality. LinkedIn members offered their suggestions about networking online or in-person in the last edition of #GetHired. They suggest that you start reaching out to people you know and ask them for new contacts. You should focus whatever conversations you have on learning. Be mindful not to ruin the budding relationship by asking for too much, like a job. Lastly, you need to maintain relationships once they’re built. Here’s what people are saying about the advice.

? Other news to help you #GetHired:

Has the pandemic made recruiting talent easier? Recruiters and talent professionals say it’s easier to hire during the coronavirus pandemic than it was last year, according to a new survey. Finding high-quality job candidates was a challenge in 2020 for 68% of respondents, compared to 87% in 2019, according to the survey of 400 international hiring professionals. They also reported that it was easier to make the hiring process more efficient in 2020 than the year before. As expected, respondents to the survey reported a 159% increase in video interviews from 2019. Here’s what people are saying about the results.

You should keep a file of personal highlights. People looking for a jolt of energy or inspiration can benefit from hearing about the times they were at their best, writes Dan Cable, a professor at London Business School, in Harvard Business Review. The practice, which he calls the Positive Method, involves people reaching out to family, friends and co-workers and asking them to offer stories about the person’s unique strengths. Cable recommends giving the person you’re reaching out to the same type of feedback you want to receive. You should save up the responses to read all at once. Also, you should carry what you learned with you throughout your daily life. Here’s what people are saying about the technique.

Here’s who’s hiring right now. As I’ve said before, we’re doing our best to connect you with companies that are still hiring during these troubled economic times. Part of that effort is a regularly updated list of companies we know to be hiring. Some of those include Amazon, Walmart and CVS Health. Click here to see more.

? Up next:

One of the most important skills a person can learn is how to advocate for themselves. The skill comes in especially handy during job searches when you need to make a case for yourself and sell your skills. We’ll be talking about being your own advocate in the next edition of #GetHired. How do you or did you advocate for yourself while looking for work? Is this an area where you struggle to excel? Tell me your thoughts and advice by clicking here.

Thanks for reading! Feel free to reach out to me if you have ideas on topics or questions I should address in future editions of #GetHired. You can also email me at GetHired[at]LinkedIn.com.