Getting Hired for the Holidays

Between the growing ranks of the unemployed and other consumers crunched by economic woes, nabbing a seasonal job is going to be a lot tougher than snagging one of this year's must-have holiday gadgets or toys.

The U.S. economy lost another 240,000 jobs last month, pushing the unemployment rate to 6.5% -- the highest it has been in 14 years, according to the latest Labor Department report. As full-time positions disappear, the number of workers employed part-time for economic reasons (mainly because part-time work was the only employment they could find) grew to 6.3 million, a 10% increase from September and up 42% from this time last year.

Problem is, now there are far fewer part-time jobs to go around and the typically employment-flush holiday season -- when retailers and other companies hire hordes of temporary workers to help handle the rush -- will just as grim. "Most holiday hiring is around retail, and retailers are bracing for a tough holiday season," says Bob Nelson, founder of Nelson Motivation, an employment consulting firm. Holiday sales are expected to increase by just 2.2%, compared to last year's 3% sales bump, according to the National Retail Federation. As a result of such bleak projections, many retailers plan to hire fewer seasonal workers.

The bottom line: If a seasonal job is on your holiday wish list you'll need to act fast, says Alison Preszler, spokeswoman for the Better Business Bureau. Some businesses had holiday displays up and festive music blaring before Halloween, which means those businesses looking for holiday help have already been hiring.

Try these six tips to snag a coveted seasonal job:

Snagging a job at a local store or big-box chain where you plan to do a lot of your holiday shopping is the best scenario. Not only will you earn extra cash, but the employee discounts you'll receive will enable you to buy items on your list for as much as 50% off, says Nelson. Gap (GPS), for example, offers employees 30% to 50% off regular and sale items, and even extends the discount to sister brands Old Navy and Banana Republic. Retail employees also get advance notice of sales and first crack at buying new inventory.

No luck applying at your favorite stores? Expand the search to other businesses where seasonal demand is high, suggests Preszler. Think shipping companies like UPS (UPS) or FedEx (FDX), catering companies flooded with holiday parties or nurseries that sell holiday trees and greenery.

Seasonal employers look to fill the gaps in their regular full-time workers' schedules so expect to be saddled with shifts that no one else wants, says Preszler. Those willing to work Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Eve or take on the dreaded overnight shift, for example, will have better luck finding a job.

While sites like SnagAJob.com are great for hunting down hourly work -- current openings include seasonal help at Toys 'R' Us and clothing chain Express -- don't actually use the site to apply online, says Tory Johnson, CEO of Women for Hire, a career web site. Showing up makes more of an impression than sending an email. Businesses looking for help may conduct an interview on the spot if they see a good candidate, so dress appropriately even if you're just there to pick up an application.

"If businesses are hiring fewer people, they're going to be looking for the best [person] possible," says Nelson. Whether you're a whiz at the cash register or simply know and love the store's brand, point out anything that sets you apart from other applicants. It helps, too, if you can honestly say you'd like to come back for future holiday seasons, or serve as the occasional fill-in. Retailers like to think training you could pay off for them long term, he says.

If a business isn't looking for help yet, try back in a few weeks. Or leave a name and number for them to call you. "Turnover in retail is high, so there's a real possibility something could become available later," says Johnson.