Blog Post: Ways Seasonal Employment Can Help in Your Permanent Job Search

I keep hearing many people associate seasonal employment to very young candidates looking for part-time work. However, seasonal work provides a ton of great opportunities to all types of job seekers. If you are a job seeker looking for full-time employment, here are a few reasons you should consider these opportunities:

Extra Money
This is probably the most common reason any candidate accepts a seasonal position. No matter where you are in your job search, a little extra cash can go a long way.

Gain Experience
If you can find seasonal employment in the industry you are interested in, great! This is another way for you to add to your experience in that field. If you find a seasonal opportunity that isn’t in your field, that’s great too! Regardless of where you are working you are gaining experience and learning new skills. Showcasing these on your resume tells recruiters that you are actively working to better yourself as a candidate.

Networking
With new opportunity come new people. You have heard me say it time and time again, everyone you know should know you are looking for a job. Companies prefer employee referrals to almost every other means of recruiting. Expanding your network can also help get you in front people who know of opportunities you never knew existed. Use seasonal employment to increase your job search network.

Predictable End Date
Seasonal positions are one type of short-term employment most accepted by recruiters. Most seasonal opportunities come with a projected end date or range of dates. This allows you to continue your permanent job search while in a seasonal role. This way you can let recruiters know exactly when you are available to start.

Possibility of a Permanent Position
Seasonal employment is also a great way for you to get your foot in the door at a company or within an industry. I have heard numerous stories of part-time positions turning into permanent roles either with that same company, or with a company introduced by the seasonal employer. You never know where an opportunity can take you.

If you are considering seasonal employment, here are some industries to consider:
•    Retail
•    Packaging and shipping
•    Sporting goods (for the snow season)
•    Accounting (tax time is just around the corner)