How to Turn Holiday Job into Full-Time Job

It’s that time of year where numerous businesses raise the number of workers they staff thanks to the uptick in holiday shopping.  Sometimes, those workers can turn that part-time gig into a full-time job, according to Fox Business.

In 2011, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said that businesses created 660,000 part-time jobs.  In 2012, some businesses expect that number to hit the 700,000 mark.

“Most employers are hiring now for the holiday season,” says Jolynn Cunningham, director of Talent at career website Indeed.com. She cites retail, hospitality and transportation as industries signaling strong growth this season. “It’s been a slow climb out of the recession.”

A seasonal role allows workers to keep searching for a full-time job while still bringing in a sustainable paycheck.  Of late, sometimes that part-time role can lead to full-time employment.

Hard work, dedication, performance and being accountable can help lead to that promotion at the conclusion of the holidays.  One expert says to pick a field that needs help but make it one of personal interest.

“There are so many amazing holiday jobs—if you love toys or fashion, go get a holiday job but think about the fact that you’re working in the industry that you care about,” says J.T. O’Donnell, a workplace consultant and founder of Careerealism.com. If you believe in the industry, your enthusiasm for the product and brand will show and could help propel you into a permanent job in retail or corporate. “Companies hire people who believe in their products.”

One of the big keys for getting such holiday work is applying as soon as possible.  StartWire states that half of hires were first-week applicants while three-quarters of the hires sent in their application within the first three weeks.

Be sure to explore the company and decide whether or not it is an ideal place for a long-term commitment.

With so much competition for these positions, a way to get a leg up is by heading to a retailer and chatting directly with the management.  By simply exuding your personality and proving you would be a quality employee, a store manager can put a face with a resume.

Stores use part-time roles as a springboard to pick out elite employees for their full-time staff after the holidays.  Going above and beyond normal duties is highly recommended.

When hired, relay to higher-ups the interest in working there after the holiday season has passed.

Many people can do work on a part-time basis, but it’s the people who are committed and passionate who get the full-time gigs, not the people who are there just to get paid.