Benefits of Seasonal Employment

By definition, seasonal employment refers to employment opportunities that are available for only a portion of the year.

While taking a seasonal job may not be part of your long tem goal in career planning, these positions can help you prosper in the future. Here are ten reasons to consider seasonal employment:

• Flexibility – Seasonal jobs can fill the time gaps between other projects. For example: school, travel, or another employment opportunity. Seasonal employers are often more likely to work with you on scheduling your ideal shifts and days off so you can have a great work/life balance.

• Earning Potential – Several employers pay higher wages or offer signing bonuses for seasonal employment. Often there are more chances for overtime in short term projects.

• Work and Travel – Some employers pay the travel cost of getting you to a job in a different province or country. This gives you a chance to work, travel and explore new opportunities while on location. Accommodations may be paid for by your employer, which in turn may lower your cost of living.

• Finding Your Niche – Seasonal jobs give you the opportunity to try out different professions to see if they are a good fit or not.  If it is something you enjoy then it’s a good introduction to a field you may want to pursue.

• Building Skills – Each new job gives you new skills to build on. For instance, good customer service skills are important in every position dealing with the public.  Many employers provide training courses which offer valuable certificates or tickets that will help you gain long term employment.  For example: First Aid, WHMIS, FoodSafe, Serving it Right, a Forklift Ticket and many more. All these transferable skills can be added to your portfolio for your next line of work.

• Building Character – Starting a new job is exciting and can be a little nerve racking at the same time. New experiences help you to practice determination, self-control, patience, and eventually confidence. These are all good values that build character to help you impress your next employer.

• Employer Perks – Some seasonal employers will entice you to join their team with perks. For example, enjoy receiving employee discounts at a spa, free lift passes, or tickets to special events.

• Networking – Your co-workers can help you find other employment opportunities. For example, they may know of other opportunities you would be perfect for, or they may be a good reference for you in the future.  The more people you impress the greater your chances of finding that dream job you’ve been searching for.

• Getting Your Foot In the Door – A lot of seasonal employment is entry level. Starting out with a seasonal position gives your employer a chance to see what you can do and gives you the opportunity to gain the skills you need to do the job.  Often employers hire for work ethic and attitude and will teach their employees the skills they need to do the particular job.  If you impress your employer they may want to keep you and offer you future work within their organization.

• Resume Building – Seasonal work will fill gaps in your resume. Building new skills to list on your resume will show that you are willing to try new situations.  Having no gaps in your work history shows that you’re a go-getter, making things happen instead of waiting for things to happen.

Given the information above, consider making seasonal employment a stepping stone towards advancing your career in a short amount of time. Check out new opportunities on our website.

No one is responding to my applications – what should I do?”

We hear again and again from job seekers how frustrating it can be to get no response after applying to various positions.  The best advice we can suggest is to not take this personally.  The typical procedure for organizations now is to only get in touch with applicants shortlisted for an interview.

When employers receive 100, 200 or even 300 resumes for an advertised position, they do not have time to connect with candidates they are not planning to interview.  According to the website Glassdoor, only 2% of applicants will get a call for an interview.

So what should you do?

Revise your resume for each job you are applying to. You do not need to do a completely different resume for every job, but rather just revise it.  Make sure you are highlighting your skills and abilities and truthfully documenting how you will meet their needs based on the job advertisement. 

Network, network, network!  Companies want to hire someone they know or someone who has been a referral from someone they trust. The larger your network, the more people you have who could vouch for you in an employment situation.  Make sure your contacts know you are looking for employment and what it is you are willing to do for work.

Don’t get discouraged, continue to apply, continue to follow up, and build your network.

Self-Care: The 5-4-3-2-1 Technique

We all know that hunting for a new job can be stressful.  Grounding and mindfulness practices are a constructive way to care for yourself during this employment search process. 

The 5-4-3-2-1 technique is a simple activity to help encourage a sense of calm and relaxation if you’re experiencing anxiety or doubt during this challenging time. 

• 5:  Notice 5 things around you that you can see, and name them in your head (e.g. bench, tree, bird, cloud, car).

• 4:  Notice 4 things that you can hear (e.g. someone laughing, wind rustling the leaves, birds cawing, a car engine). 

• 3:  Notice 3 things that you can touch, and if it’s appropriate, reach out and pat them gently, taking the time to notice how they feel (e.g. rough bark, soft grass, your fuzzy sweater).

• 2:  Notice 2 things that you can smell (e.g. the ocean, your shampoo). 

• 1:  Finally, think of 1 thing that you genuinely like about yourself (e.g. your good intentions, your sense of humour, your ability to remember random trivia, etc.).

What’s great about this technique is that you can do it anywhere, anytime.  If you are in a waiting room just about to interview for a job, and feeling overwhelmed, you can help yourself relax and prepare for the meeting by quickly checking in with your senses.  Taking the time to ground yourself before meeting a potential employer can improve your focus for the big meeting. The next time you’re feeling stressed – try the 5-4-3-2-1!

Be Authentic in Your Job Search

What does it really mean to be authentic? Being authentic is staying true to your own ideas, norms and values, including in the way you present yourself, interact with others and pursue your career.

Since ‘Tell me About Yourself’ is one of the top ten most commonly asked interview questions, it is really important to be prepared to answer this question truthfully.  The following are some questions to ask yourself or someone who knows you well before talking to employers.

What are your greatest assets?

What are you most passionate about?

What are your most unique and marketable skills?

What can you do better than anyone else?

What do you have a reputation for?

Now pull your answers together for a 2-3 sentence personal brand statement. Your goal is to stand out from the crowd and let people know who you are.

Recently, a Career Centre client informed me she was out with a friend and was told there was a hiring fair going on in Parksville.  She did not have time to go home to collect her resume or get changed into interview appropriate attire, so she decided she was going to ‘wing it’. She attended the hiring fair, answered the questions to the best of her ability and within 15 minutes was hired! When I asked her “why do you think you got the job”? She replied, “I love what I do and I am good at it”! She was able to be authentic with the employer and as a result got the job she really wanted.

Be Authentic! Be You!

The Career Centre offers a personal branding workshop called “Branding You”. In this workshop you learn how to create your own employment opportunities or find existing ones fast by actively networking, creating a personal brand statement and marketing your unique set of skills.

Personal Branding Tips

https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/hope-relationships/201503/4-ways-be-more-authentic-person