Job hunting is difficult in this job market and at some point, we all take what we can get. If a permanent job can’t be found, you can do nothing about it. So maybe pick up a seasonal job? Everyone has had a seasonal job at one point, whether it be a summer job or an after school job. However, not everyone is in school. Some of us need a job that has a full schedule but that doesn’t mean that seasonal jobs should be excluded.
There are some good reasons to pick up a seasonal job, such as making money. It may be seasonal, but it pays. You may not like the amount you’re being paid but its still money. Right now minimum wage sounds better than nothing. Another reason to get seasonal employment is that you’re trying to keep busy. You can put this down on your resume to show that you have been doing something. One thing employers like to scrutinize is large time gaps between jobs on your resume. You can use your seasonal jobs to fill in the gaps. A seasonal job can also provide a new set of skills and experience. You’re more likely to gain a transferable skill in a seasonal job than doing nothing. Even if it’s a type of job that you have done before, it’s still keeping your skills sharp if you don’t feel there is anything to gain.
When there’s a pro, there’s a con. Seasonal jobs will take away from your job hunting, and in turn, it will take away possible interviews for jobs. You also won’t have as much time to work on your resume or submit it to employers. Seasonal jobs rarely last, unless you impress the employer enough for them to keep you. You’re also more expendable in a seasonal job. Keep in mind that you may have replaced someone before you and you yourself can be replaced just as easily.
I’ve held seasonal jobs before and I know what it feels like to be replaced. I worked as a tutor during the spring. The summer was around to corner with teens looking for a summer job. The teens were being paid minimum wage by a government funded third party. I was given the option to be part of the third party if I wanted to keep my job through the summer. I was being paid 9.50 an hour and I wasn’t looking to change to minimum wage at the time. I felt it wasn’t worth it, so I was let go only to be replaced by minimum wage labor. I didn’t make much from this seasonal job, but money is money and I didn’t complain.
Seasonal jobs are not for everyone and some people are not for seasonal jobs. It’s really up to you as a job hunter to weigh the pros and cons of a seasonal job. Is a seasonal job worth it to you? It ultimately comes down to a judgment call as to whether to take a seasonal job or not.