Holiday Jobs Hard to Come By

By Broadside Editor-in-Chief Nicole Ocran. Photo courtesy of Flickr user Hendrick's Photos.

The tight retail market has hindered most opportunities for seasonal hiring. Broadside consulted Rebekah Troug, front desk manager of University Career Services, for advice for those looking for employment during the holiday season.

What are some of the challenges that students may encounter when going out to apply for jobs over the holidays?

The greatest challenge affecting job seekers over the holidays this year is the need to expand their searches to include targets other than the usual holiday employers. While the current economic climate is in flux and the job market is more competitive, the Washington, D.C. metro area has a much stronger job market than most other areas of the country.

Retail has always been a mainstay for seasonal work, but this year there will be more competition for fewer positions.

To broaden the search for seasonal jobs, students can consider registering with temp agencies or working in the hospitality industry. Another option—contact transitioning local and federal elected and appointed officials who may need help to get ready for assuming their new position in 2009.

What do you think is the ideal time frame for students looking for a job over winter break to start applying?

If you have not already begun your holiday job search, start now. In particular, there is expected to be fewer seasonal jobs in the retail industry so you should start looking no later than the beginning of December. If you wait until your exams are done, you could be significantly reducing your chances of finding a seasonal position.

Do you find that most students are looking for jobs in the retail industry? Are there other industries that students could take advantage of during this time period?

Child care assistance for parents who will still be working over their children’s winter break is an alternative to retail. In our local area, the hospitality industry may have more seasonal positions available leading up to the presidential inauguration due to the expected record turnout.

Gaining career-related experience by doing volunteer work, or shadowing a professional in a desired career field are other options to consider. < ahref="http://careers.gmu.edu/cn" target="blank">“Career Network” includes a number of alumni who are offering shadowing options to interested students.

What resources might students find useful to find a job over the holidays?

Networking is an especially effective way to find a job. Ask your parents, your friends, your parent’s friends, your friends' parents, etc. if they know of any openings. 60 to 90 percent of jobs are found through networking. Specialized online job searches based on your desired field is also a useful resource.

If you will not be staying in the Mason area, stop by the local university’s career centers to see if they have a job posting board. Search the Craigslist postings for your area or other local business directories.

The most important thing to remember is to not limit your job searching using just one method.

How do you feel that the economy has affected the job industry this year? Do you think this will carry over during the holiday season?

The downturn in the economy has resulted in an increase in layoffs and unemployment. This will most likely carry over as the economy continues to struggle. However, while many industries are seeing a decline, there is a 20 percent increase in government hiring.

Have you found that the pay rates have increased or decreased at all in certain fields? If so, which fields?

Generally, post-graduation salaries have remained steady. Pay rates for seasonal positions will be variable depending on location and industry.

Would you be able to suggest any other sources of income over the holidays if students are in a bind?

Entrepreneurial offerings are great alternatives to the traditional seasonal job. Providing services like web designs for small businesses or snow shoveling in your neighborhood can provide quick cash.

Utilizing temp agencies is another alternative. Many of these agencies can place you with businesses that are in need of short-term seasonal help.

For the students staying on campus over the holidays, are there any offices open on campus where students might be able to find a job?

If there are, it will be very few. An informal survey of offices that will still be open over the holidays (Patriot Center, Facilities, etc.) shows a lack of seasonal employment on campus.

Is there anything else that you would like to add?
Overall, our region is in better shape. There are still jobs and internships in the D.C. metro area. It is never too early to start looking for summer and post-graduation employment. Career Services will re-open on January 5. Make an appointment with a career counselor to go over your job-hunting strategies. Patriot Job Web, our online job and internship posting database, will continue to be accessible over the holiday break.

See Career Services’ Web site, http://careers.gmu.edu, for details on Patriot Job Web and hours of operation.