With the economy in turmoil recently and unemployment rates soaring, many people who’ve been fired or laid off from full-time jobs are turning to hourly jobs to make ends meet. Some even take on two or three part-time jobs, working for different companies – if necessary. Since Christmas season is fast approaching, sites like Snagajob.com can help potential employees tweak their job hunting skills and up their chances of landing a seasonal or even permanent part-time or hourly job. In a tight economy, updated job hunting skills can make all the difference between landing a job or remaining unemployed.
Updates from Snagajob.com and info about hourly jobs, part-time jobs and the economy
The latest news? Hourly job seekers, particularly those that want holiday jobs, may find this year far tougher than previous years. That probably isn’t a huge surprise to many readers but if you want to see recent info, check here: http://www.snagajob.com/press/holiday-hiring-market-2008.aspxto see the result of a recent survey at the Snag a Job website. The survey indicates that seasonal jobs could be down as much as 33 percent, compared to last year. Ouch!
According to the survey, thirty-six percent of employers will begin looking for workers in October, with a significant number starting before then.
Bottom line: potential seasonal job seekers need to start looking for jobs in October, if possible. This includes college students who plan to work over the holidays and who could be competing with those laid off or fired from their full-time jobs. Employers may have to make some tough decisions while interviewing potential job candidates.
The good news: jobs are available and seasonal workers are needed but job seekers shouldn’t wait. There may also be fewer workers taking yearly vacations, although that information comes only from conversations I’ve had with some postal employees, all of them planning to stay home this year and not take long holiday vacations. Also, with the economy being an unknown variable, there is the possibility that some employees hired in October may land full-time jobs by November or December, opening slots for more seasonal workers.
How to use Snagajob.com, other resources, to land part-time jobs – including seasonal work
I explored the Snagajob.com website to discover all the tools there for potential job seekers. I targeted the midwestern part of the United States and did a trial run on jobs in Indianapolis. Happily, a wide variety of jobs were still available, including jobs at Domino’s Pizza, Home Depot, Hyatt hotels and some teaching positions at child care and learning centers like Kindercare. Many other jobs were also listed, a good sign. To see job listings in your area, check out the job listings by state at the Snagajob website section here: http://www.snagajob.com/job-seeker/jobs/statelist.aspx and perhaps you’ll see an equally wide range of jobs.
While you are exploring the info at the Snag a Job website, don’t pass up the free tips on how to stay safe while applying for work. There is also plenty of free information about how to make a good impression, hit the ground running, improve your job skills and more.
If you don’t find your ideal job there, consider checking temporary or seasonal employers in your area or even drop into retail stores and start filling out job applications now. Check your newspaper ads for job fairs and part-time work listed in the classified ads.
Bottom line: start with online resources, including Snagajob.com to help you land a job, saving time, energy and gas money. If you don’t have luck online, consider going to retail stores, shopping malls and other areas where seasonal employees are needed. But don’t forget….now is the time to start looking for Christmas jobs or holiday work.
The good news: job listings were still showing up online, with a range of job skills needed (some requiring advanced degrees or special training).
Snagajob.com can help nearly anyone looking for work – if you know which tools to use
Even if you aren’t looking for an hourly job, you might find it worth your while to drop by the site and check out some of the economic calculators there. These could save you money and help you determine which employer to use. Check out the Wage Calculator, found here: http://www.snagajob.com/job-resources/wage-calculator.aspx and you could find jobs in your desired hourly rate. But the Wage Calculator page goes far beyond that, with tools to help you compare the cost of living between one state and another. This could make it much easier to see how far your dollars could go if you took a part-time job in a specific state or area.
There is even a College Tuition Planner tool, one that could be used by parents or students who are saving for college as well as by employees who want to go back to school and gain new job skills.
Bottom line: Snagajob.com has tools which could provide financial assistance or economic aid and information to nearly anyone, job seeker or not. The Wage Calculator and College Tuition Planner could help employees find the right job at the right salary – or figure out how to save for college.
The good news: some very useful economic calculators and money-saving tools are free at the Snag a Job website. They are worth exploring.
Sources:
Personal experience and research
Site: Snagajob.com at: www.snagajob.com and recent survey there
