Retailers Hired 465,500 Seasonal Works in November — All-Time Record

John Challenger of Challenger, Gray & Christmas

Retailers added 465,500 seasonal workers in November, the most ever added during what is typically the busiest hiring month of the holiday hiring season, according to an analysis of non-seasonally adjusted data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics by global outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc.

The net gain in retail employment achieved last month barely surpassed the previous record set in 2007, when retail payrolls grew by 465,400 workers during the month of November.    Continue Reading

How to Turn a Seasonal, Temporary Job Into a Permanent Career

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock

Thirty-nine percent of employers who are hiring seasonal help plan to transition some employees into full-time, permanent staff, up from 30 percent in 2011. To stand out as a candidate for a long-term opportunity, hiring managers recommended the following:

• Provide above and beyond customer service. Offer help instead of waiting to be asked for it – 53 percent
• Proactively ask for more projects – 46 percent
• Let the employer know up front that you’re interested in permanent employment – 46 percent
• Present ideas on how to do something better or try something new – 34 percent
• Ask thoughtful questions about the organization – 32 percent

Source: Careerbuilder

Searching for a Permanent Job? Temp. 35% of Employers Plan To Hire Temps as Permanent Employees.

A whopping thirty-five percent of American companies are operating with smaller staffs than before the recession. To keep pace with market demand, many are turning to staffing and recruiting companies and temporary workers. Thirty-six percent of companies will hire contract or temporary workers in 2012. This is up from 34 percent for 2011, 30 percent for 2010, and 28 percent for 2009. For those looking for permanent employment, probably the most interesting statistic in this blog article is that 35 percent of the companies hiring temporary or contract workers this year have plans to hire them on a permanent basis. Continue Reading