
Consider taking a seasonal job if you’re hoping to make money over the summer or winter break. When business picks up during the busiest months of the year, many businesses expand their workforce. While it may take some time and study to locate the ideal seasonal career for your abilities and interests, there are advantages, including the ability to convert a seasonal job into a full-time position.
In many cases, a seasonal job is just that: a way to make some extra money during the holiday season. But depending on the industry you’re in and the company you work for, a seasonal gig can last anywhere from a few weeks to several months—or even become a permanent position. So if you’re considering taking on a seasonal job this year, here’s what you need to know about how long they typically last.
This article reviews the advantages of seasonal labor, lists some typical seasonal occupations, discusses How long is a seasonal job and offers advice on how to make your seasonal job permanent.
Seasonal job: Overview
Positions that are only required during specific seasons of the year are known as seasonal employment. These are transient and momentary positions. They could be seasonal in relation to location or seasonal in relation to the season.
For instance, certain areas of the nation are busier (with tourists) in the summer but may almost disappear in the winter. Christmas is often the busiest season of the year for retailers, who recruit extra staff to provide customers the best service possible.
Seasonality also affects the food service and retail sectors, depending on where firms are located. Seasonal jobs is necessary for even IT enterprises.
Seasonal employment examples include:
- Farmer
- Hotel personnel
- Restaurant personnel
- Staff at entertainment venues
- Technical and customer assistance
- Retailers’ employees
- Driver
- Delivery/logistics personnel
- Instructor
- Cruise ship personnel
If you don’t have any work experience, a seasonal job is a great place to start.
How long does a seasonal job last
Although the time might vary based on the season you’re hired for, seasonal employment normally lasts three months. For instance, you may anticipate working at a lake resort for three to four months if you are engaged to assist during the busiest summer months. If you’re employed around the holiday season, you can start working in October or November only to discover that the position is only needed until the beginning of January.
For instance, throughout the warm months of the year, coastal resorts require a lot of employees, with summer being the busiest season.
Accordingly, they are in season for around four to five months out of the year.
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The same reasoning holds true for winter resorts, which are busiest throughout the colder seasons of the year, particularly when snow begins to fall, and draws skiers and snowboarders.
There are two primary seasons when it comes to seasonal employment: summer and winter. There are also short, normal, and long seasons within each of those.
Summer Seasonal Jobs
At its length, a long summer season can begin in the early spring, around April, and go all the way through October. Employers in Mackinac Island, Michigan, including the majority of National Park employers, for instance, enjoy a lengthy season. A lengthy summer would typically last 5 months or longer.
Typically, a summer season lasts from mid-May until the end of September. Since the operating seasons of many Alaskan enterprises tend to coincide with the summer cruise ship season, this is typical for many Guest Ranch positions as well.
It’s vital to keep in mind that many summer seasonal businesses will offer you a work contract from the time you finish the spring semester until you need to return for the autumn semester if you’re a university student. Of course, this varies depending on the university, but it usually begins around the middle to the end of May and ends in the early to the middle of August.
Employment at a summer camp or in the late summer or early fall might be found with a short summer season. Employers who have longer summer seasons frequently do a second round of hiring beginning in July for a start date in the middle of August through the conclusion of their season, which is generally in the middle of October. Thus, this may take anywhere between 6 and 10 weeks.
Winter Seasonal Jobs
Regarding winter, it might last from the middle of October until the end of April. Operating seasons of this duration are typical for guest ranches in the Southwest.
The typical winter season runs from mid-December to the beginning of April for ski resorts and their ancillary industries in ski resort communities.
Regarding a short winter season, some ski areas may recruit additional staff to assist them get through the busy holiday season, but the majority will want you to stay at least through President’s Day weekend because it’s frequently their busiest weekend of the year.
When do seasonal jobs start and end
Seasonal employment begins one or two weeks prior to the season’s official start date. This allows new hires ample time to complete their first training so they can function as productive employees once the hectic season starts.
When the busy season for enterprises and companies ends, seasonal employment ends as well.
For instance, seasonal winter occupations often expire as spring approaches whereas seasonal summer ones typically stop in early October.
Amazon
During the holiday season, Amazon has a huge spike in business and employs more workers to provide services for customers. Amazon seasonal jobs offer employees the opportunity to work more hours and earn more. This is a great opportunity for people who are looking for a way to earn extra income.
Seasonal jobs are only available during certain times of the year, typically during November through January. Amazon is always looking for people who can help the company, and seasonal workers are considered real assets. In fact, Amazon is hiring more than 150,000 seasonal employees in the U.S. Several of them return year after year.
Seasonal employees are paid hourly for the work they perform. They typically work between 30 and 35 hours per week. During the holiday season, they are expected to work long hours to ensure that customers receive their orders in a timely manner.
Target
During the holiday season, retailers like Target hire thousands of seasonal workers. These are the people who unload trucks, stock shelves, set up signs and more. Although these are temporary positions, they are a great way to build relationships with management. Often, these individuals transition into full-time roles later.
Target holds job fairs at over 1,800 locations. These are opportunities to meet the hiring personnel, and to get an idea of what it’s like to work for the retail giant.
Target has announced plans to hire 100,000 seasonal employees for the upcoming holiday season. It isn’t the only company planning to do so. Walmart plans to hire 40,000 workers, while Amazon plans to hire another 150,000.
The average start wage for seasonal Target employees is $15 an hour. Target will also offer more hours for its current staff during the holiday season. Target is also committed to a healthy work environment.
Best Buy
Despite a dip in net income in the past year, Best Buy is not about to go under. It is currently on the hunt for a new set of seasonal staff to help it navigate the holiday season. The company has a plethora of positions available. They’ve even got a job ad that will let you apply for a position via text message.
Best Buy has more than 1,000 stores in the United States. It has also absorbed Geek Squad, which offers tech support and installation services. It is also a retailer of consumer electronics, entertainment products, and more. The company offers a 401(k) plan, a plethora of employee discounts, and free counseling. The Best Buy Employee Assistance Program offers expert advice on everything from budgeting to life events.
UPS
During the holiday season, UPS hires hundreds of thousands of temporary workers. Most of these seasonal employees are hired part-time and then move up to full-time positions after the holidays. This year, UPS plans to hire over 100,000 seasonal workers.
Most seasonal positions pay $15 to $25 an hour. Depending on the location, some pay more. UPS expects better inventory levels to meet demand this year. The company has made seasonal hiring easier than ever.
The company’s “Brown Friday” hiring event will take place on November 4 and 5. In addition to virtual interviews, applicants can also attend an in-person event in their area.
UPS will also hold more than 450 hiring events across the country. Applicants should expect to spend less than 25 minutes completing the application.
How to find a seasonal job
There are several methods for locating a seasonal job. Searching online, in publications, or on numerous employment portals is one option. There should be a ton of seasonal employment options in your neighborhood if you simply search online for “seasonal jobs near me.”
Another option is to work with a staffing firm. Staffing firms can assist you in finding a position that matches your experience because they frequently have a list of positions that they are presently searching for. Additionally, you may register to receive customized job notifications relevant to the sector you are interested in.
FAQs
Is a summer job considered seasonal?
By definition, summer employment is seasonal because it only exists during the summer.
As the company enters its off-season, when consumer and production activity drastically declines, a summer employment may begin as early as late spring and conclude as early as early fall.
Is a seasonal job worth it?
The addition of a seasonal job is a great method to highlight a variety of work experiences if you are recently out of college or are having trouble filling out your resume or CV. Alternately, taking on seasonal employment might fill the gap if you’re thinking about changing careers but lack experience in the new field.
A seasonal worker can develop experience, a network, and exposure to future-helpful skills. Compared to full-time employees, seasonal workers often put in fewer hours. The number of hours a seasonal employee works depends on the business and the position.
What is the duration of a seasonal job?
Depending on the season you are hired, seasonal labor often lasts for three months. For example, if you are recruited to work as a resort assistant during the busiest summer season, your employment should last three to four months. Let’s say you land a job around the holidays. In such a situation, you can get recruited in October or November just to find that the position won’t be filled until the beginning of January.
How long is a seasonal job at Target?
Seasonal laborers often work from October through January before being let go. around four months. There was a potential that you would reapply to become a more permanent shop employee after a number of months.
How long is a seasonal job at Best Buy?
Seasonal contracts with Best Buy are encouraged and often run through the holiday season. This spans from Thanksgiving through the first day of the new year. At Best Buy, a seasonal position generally lasts two to three months.
Final thoughts
A seasonal job is a fantastic method for people to benefit from transient employment options that fit their lives and skill sets. Seasonal work can be a useful strategy to rapidly and conveniently increase your income at a period that works for you. However, it may also be deliberately employed to greatly increase your income, as seasonal labor frequently contributes significantly to your annual wage. It may also be a fantastic approach to uncover your strengths and interests as well as gain new skills and methods of functioning.
Seasonal job may provide you a variety of transferrable skills that can increase your employability and your CV. But seasonal work can provide certain difficulties. It could not be dependable; you might be quickly replaced, and it might fail at the eleventh hour.
So, if you want to safeguard your financial future, you need to have some backup plans in place.
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