Seasonal jobs can bridge the gap between permanent assignments

If you are currently unemployed and unable to find work in your area of expertise, there is no need to worry about the future. It is not uncommon for job seekers to turn down an alternate path for a short while before resuming a desired career. Temporary work is one option to bringing in income while you wait for more substantial positions, and that is why seasonal jobs are good for browsing in these troubled times.

What is a Seasonal Job?

As the name implies, a seasonal job is one that is offered on a temporary basis, usually around a busy time of year for that particular company or market. For retail shops and warehouses, the Christmas holidays are especially hectic and some places require extra help to make sure purchases are handled and shipped on time. For the tourist attraction or resort, there may be opportunities for temporary work in the summer when foot traffic is the heaviest. In popular areas like Virginia Beach, the Outer Banks, and Florida, you may find restaurants and boutiques taking on extra staff.

Finding a Seasonal Job

Take care to check the newspaper wants ads under listings for seasonal work if you are interested in a short-term job. Not all of these jobs involve manual labor or food service experience – clerical and IT work may be available during these periods to help companies handle extra paperwork and Internet queries when customer demand rises. Applying for work through a local recruiting firm is another way to find seasonal jobs, as companies working with staffing businesses will seek temporary workers this way.

The Benefits of a Seasonal Job

While manning the customer service desk of a hotel may not sound like the ideal job for an IT programmer, don’t discount the opportunities that may await you when the work is done. Your experience at a hotel, restaurant, or office could lead to work in your field should a vacancy come about – not only will you have the skills, but prior time put into the business. This is why it’s important, no matter how temporary the position, to do your best and leave with a great impression. You may need references from temporary jobs, too, so keep that in mind.

So if you are in need of a job quickly and are unable to wait for “the” job to be posted, consider temporary seasonal work to bide you until you are able to resume or jumpstart your career.

Kathryn Lively is a freelance writer specializing in articles on Virginia Beach jobs.