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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 31, 2000)
For more job info visit ►►► Why the mad rush to hire tons of people a Christmas time? The holiday season is the peak-selling period for retailers nationwide, which translates into an abundance of opportunities for students. So how much hiring are companies really doing? According to Bruce Van Kleek, vice-president of member services for the National Retail Federation, department stores increase their stall' by 8.8 percent during the months of November and December. Small apparel stores will increase by 7.8 per cent. So if you want to spend your winter break mak ing fast cash by working at your favorite clothing store, then start your job search now. "If you’re even think ing about working, get in early, and you'll get the job," advises Kleek. The holiday season is busier now than in recent years and due to the competitive job market, retailers are hiring months before the season starts. Tweak your resume before hitting the pavement and you’ll find yourself a promising job this Christmas. ns The Season To Be Working Part-Time A part-time retail job can lead you down the road to a fulfilling career after graduation. As a seasonal ' employee, you are trply getting a taste of what it is like to work in a retail environment before you make any long-term com mitments. "It’s a good opportunity for college students to build work experience and get good references," says Kleek, and it's a great way to check out retailing as a pos sible career choice. There are numerous career opportunities in retail including those in marketing, display, design, human resources, and computers. For those students not yet graduating, being a sea sonal employee is a great way to get your foot in the door. It used to be that Dec. 24 meant all sea sonal employees were laid off. That's not the case any longer. "Today, interested employees can stay on in a permanent retail job." says Kleek, once the busy season is over. Employers are looking for sales associates with the right attitude, flexibility in scheduling, a high level ol maturity, and a genuine desire in helping people when the time comes to staff their stores, says Kleek. Other qualities include strong communication skills, initiative, and a personal desire to achieve i results. Retail also has great benefits such as employee discounts, overtime compensation, flexibility ol hours, and wages are up right now—above minimum wage due to the competitive market. Graduating this spring? It you are interested in pursuing a career in retail, don’t wait too long. Retailers recruit in the late tall and early spring on campus. Kleek advises visiting the college recruit ment section on the web site of the company you are interested in to find out when they will be vis iting your school for interviews. Or you can call their College Recruitment Office to find out where to send your resume. An internship is another great way of testing the waters of retail. Many col leges offer related programs or you can break out on youpown and find yourself a challenging intern ship with a major retailer. When applying tor a letail position, don t forget to do your homework. Shop the store yourself, and look at other sales people for tips on how to land a job with the company. Retail is on tire dur ing this season, why not be part of its tremendous success?
