How to get a Temporary Retail Position in a Recession Holiday Season
(401 Words)
It can be more challenging to get a temporary retail position in a recession holiday season. Many retail businesses have closed, and others have cut back on what they spend by hiring fewer seasonal employees. The following tips may help you get such a position when the economy is sour.
Appear professional
You may be competing for fewer retail positions with more people looking for work in a recession. You should do all that you can in order to appear professional. If you will be going to stores asking about work, for instance, then do not go in a midriff-bearing t-shirt and cut-off jeans. You do not have to wear a full business suit, of course, but you should be well-dressed and appear neat. You also want to appear confident. You can practice for your interviews. Be sure to know about any retail-related experience that would make someone more likely to hire you for such a position.
Got to the mall and stop by every store
Sometimes the key to finding a job in a recession is volume. The more stores with which you check, the more likely that one of them will hire you. Of course you will want to hit the stores that have a “Help Wanted” sign, but you should inquire with the others, too. You have nothing to lose by asking as to whether any positions are available. Fill out an application with every place that will allow you. If there are no positions available, then ask if you can check back. Some places will let you fill out an application to be on file. Sometimes just showing this extra effort will propel you to the head of the line if a spot does open up.
Talk to people that you know
Many people get jobs through people that they know. Many are in the retail field. You should ask everyone you know in this busy field about whether there are any openings in their company. They may be able to recommend you to their boss. You can even ask if anyone knows of anyone else who can help. Even a tenuous relationship may be what gets you the job.
It may be more challenging to get a temporary retail position in a recession holiday season, however there are still jobs available. The above tactics may give you a better chance of securing one of these jobs.