5 Reasons to Apply to a Seasonal Position

 Written by: Chelsea Cottier, Youth Employment Counsellor

Are you hesitant to apply to a seasonal or short-term role? Don’t be! Let me tell you why!

As the fall and back to school season approaches you will begin to see more temporary or seasonal roles being posted online. Many industries have an increase in demand due to the holiday season and employers need to hire additional staff to support their current team. Additionally, seasons like Halloween can lead to events and pop-up stores that will hire people temporarily. These may seem like risky positions to apply to as the opportunity has an end date, however there are many benefits that make these opportunities worth considering! Read on to learn how to make the most of a seasonal or temporary role!

1. Break Into a New Industry

It is often difficult to find employment in a new industry as many employers require a minimum amount of relevant previous experience. However, when it comes to seasonal positions the requirements are often less strict and may even encourage applicants with no prior experience to apply. The effort that you put into a short-term role can also catapult you to permanently break into a new industry. Once you complete a seasonal position and add it to your resume you are more likely to stand out when applying to longer term roles and will have relatable, recent examples to utilize in interviews. Additionally, many seasonal roles can turn into permanent roles. Your time in the short-term role is a chance to impress the supervisor and if they have space on the team, you may be offered a longer-term role!

Resume Tip: To show that you are a good fit in a new industry highlight your transferrable skills in a skills section that is located near the top of the resume. Transferable skills are skills that you have gained during previous experiences that can now be applied to a new setting. These may be skills that you gained through participating in extracurricular activities, attending high school or post-secondary studies or through prior volunteer or work experience. 

Examples of transferrable skills:

• Able to work well in a team or independently 
• Relates well to a wide variety of people
• Able to communicate clearly and effectively in writing and verbally
• Able to take direction and follow through with instructions
• Able to multi-task and manage time

2. Develop New Skills

When looking for employment opportunities it is crucial to consider your strengths and weaknesses and find ways to upskill. Perhaps you would like to work in a customer service role, but you are nervous about talking to new people every day. A seasonal or temporary role is the perfect way to gain this skill and learn from your coworkers and supervisor. Each shift is a chance to learn. Perhaps you learn how to greet a customer and practice this skill until you feel comfortable. Perhaps you observe opening and closing processes and practice interacting with teammates and supervisors and this helps you feel more confident in taking on more responsibility yourself. Temporary roles have their downsides but when it comes to skill development, they are one of the best opportunities out there! 

3. Earn a Reference

One significant part of the hiring process is providing references who can speak to your previous abilities and experience. After an interview employers may ask for a list of references they can contact. When looking for your first job or early opportunities this is often a hurdle job seekers face, and it can cause anxiety! Seasonal opportunities allow for a perfect chance to impress a supervisor and gain a shiny new reference. If you demonstrate a positive attitude, are hardworking and motivated, and take direction well your supervisor is likely to be open to being a reference for you for future opportunities!

Reference Tip: Ensure you ask for permission before sharing your references personal information. Contacting them to request that they be your reference also allows them to monitor their email and phone so they can ensure to get back to the employer ASAP! 

4. Build Your Network

Workplaces provide an amazing opportunity to meet new people and build your network! Remember that your network and personal relationships are one of your biggest tools when job searching. Many positions are acquired through who you know. A current employee may refer a friend or acquaintance for an open position and help them have an edge over the competition. Additionally, a bigger network allows you to have more people looking out for opportunities for you and they can provide useful advice to help you achieve your goals. The relationships you build in this position, no matter how short-term, could help you get another position in the future. So, be open minded, ask good questions, and invest in building relationships with your supervisors and colleagues.  

5. Gain Recent Work Experience

Having a recent experience on your resume is another great way to stand out! If you were just working in a similar role the month prior, it is likely that you have retained those skills and can hop into another similar role with ease. Employers like to know that you are taking opportunities to grow and learn and have recently been engaged in your community through volunteering, employment or training and education. Temporary and short-term opportunities allow you to add something to your resume that is very recent and will increase your chances of getting long term employment!

Need Help to Apply to a Seasonal Position? Have Questions About How to Showcase Your Most Recent Seasonal or Short-Term Role?

Visit us at The City of Calgary Youth Employment Centre. We offer drop-in employment services to youth in Calgary ages 15-24. We are here to support you and we have walk-in appointments available for you to meet with a Youth Employment Counsellor.

Seasonal Opportunities to Consider This Fall!

• Pumpkins After Dark – Applications open in August 2024
• Screamfest – Applications will open soon!
• Spirit Costume Stores
• Retail/ Shopping Mall Opportunities – Hiring now and will continue into the next few months leading up to Christmas and the holiday season.
• Search online and via job boards using keywords such as the name of mall/shopping center, seasonal, temporary