Temporary Jobs: On the rise?!

The word on the street is that temporary jobs are on the rise! I read recently that retailers are investing in what are being called "pop-up shops" which would obviously need temporary workers. In fact, the bakery I work for has pop-up shops, or what we call "holiday stores", and hires lots of temporary workers through a temporary agency. I've also heard that pop-up shops are not just a holiday occurrence. So, keep your eyes peeled!

You should know that temporary jobs have many advantages for the company and the temporary employee:

1) Job candidates are screened through the temporary agency, not by the company. This costs the company money but eliminates the painstaking process of interviewing and selecting candidates for the company.

2) The temporary agency provides training for temporary employees which would normally be time drain for the company.

3) Even though you, temporary worker, may work several temporary jobs before finding a permanent position, the temporary agency has a record of your work. This may provide the backbone you need to get that permanent position.

4) Temporary work is like participating in an experiment to determine if you're a good fit for the company. Sometimes temporary workers are hired permanently!

UrbanInterns

If you're searching for a part-time job or internship in NYC you can try using UrbanInterns. It was created around February 2009 to connect small business owners with young people looking for work experience, flexible hours, and either part-time or internship opportunities.

On UrbanInterns you can also search for part-time internships in Chicago, Boston, or Washington, D.C. but there are very few jobs listed for those cities. While I think the idea of UrbanInterns is intriguing the site doesn't have a tremendous wealth of opportunities right now. I'll keep you posted...

Money for Musicians?

I found a very creative way to earn some extra cash today via the cupcakestakethecakeblog if you're a musician. There is a video of two guys who were hired by a cupcake store in Portland, Oregon to deliver singing cupcake telegrams. Basically, 2 guys make the cupcake delivery then they play the guitar and sing a song for the recipient. You can watch the video below:



By the way, if you think cupcakes are ridiculous then think again. Cupcakes are VERY IN. People who have money are spending it, even on $4.50 apiece cupcakes.

This idea may also work for local flower shops and card shops. Anyone who delivers holiday or "celebration merchandise" could be convinced that they need to invest in singing telegrams (and hiring you)!

Job Scraps: Doing the work nobody wants to do

This guest post was kindly provided by a recent jobless graduate. Thank you!

Jobless people can't be very picky about jobs when the times are tough and the unemployment rate continues to increase. Having a college or graduate degree no longer guarantees a position. It may even make you a less desirable candidate for part-time work since many companies may consider it risky to train you for a job when they know you are looking for better work and would leave ASAP if a better offer comes along.*

I worked seasonally for years on a maintenance crew at my high school. It was manual labor involving cleaning, painting, grounds keeping, and sometimes demolition and construction. The days were long and hard and I would often get in bed immediately after coming home from a day's work. There were no chances for promotions or bonuses and as a seasonal employee I was not eligible for any benefits.

I did this work because the money was solid, I was guaranteed 40 hours of work each week and enjoyed my co-workers. I still keep in touch with a few of them periodically which could help me out if I have to go back to work there in the future. It's hard to be picky when so many of us are begging for job scraps.

This doesn't mean you should give up on searching for a job within your specific field. Keep searching the web, continue filling out applications, and make new connections with people. Something may turn up when you least expect it or even right after you start your job. But, if it doesn't at least you have an income.

*This may or may not be the case. As your blogger I can say that I was successful in securing an hourly, part-time position at a bakery.

Job: Cleaning Offices

One of my co-workers has 3 jobs. He said that if you need extra money and do not mind working very late at night then you may want to try cleaning doctor's offices or other business offices in town. According to him, there are always offices to clean. Cleaning isn't glamorous work but I hear it can pay quite well for an hourly job. There is also a possibility you would work independently (on your own) if that is your style. I just searched simplyhired and indeed.com using the phrase 'office cleaning' and there are plenty of jobs listed!

New Job Search Site

Are you looking for an hourly job? I stumbled upon a decent search engine called snagajob.com.

I tried searching the site myself using my zip code and found about 15 openings. It appears that you can apply online. If you decide to apply online I would definitely follow-up by calling a hiring manager to check on the status of your application. If you visit the store you could also talk with someone in customer service to find out WHO you should contact about your submitted application.

Best of luck!

Holiday Jobs: "Are you hiring?"

A little thought can go a long way...

Have you ever noticed how early Christmas decorations are put up every year in the retail world? It happens right after Halloween. How early in the year do you think retailers plan for the holiday season? Definitely before Halloween. And, how early do you think they start hiring holiday help? EARLY. Keep this in mind if you plan on finding a seasonal job next year. There are still some holiday openings for this season (I've seen them) but most retailers have already hired.

When you visit a retailer to ask for an application there are techniques you can use that may actually get you a job. I'm working in the holiday portion of my bakery and people are still asking me if we're hiring for the holidays. My response? "As far as I know we're not hiring." None of these people bother to ask me if I'm the manager (which I am not), if they can speak with the manager, or for the manager's name and number. Do they assume I'm the manager? What if I was lying? What if we were still hiring? What if I was afraid someone was going to take my place? Why would I say we were hiring if I was afraid of losing my job? (FYI: I'm not lying and I'm not afraid of someone taking my place. However, there are plenty of people who would do this.)

Make sure you talk to the right person if you're looking for a job. Be professional and direct. If you want a job, then be serious about it. A few days ago a woman came into the store talking on her cell phone. When she saw me she told the person on the phone to hold on and asked me if we were hiring. (She didn't even take the phone off of her ear.) When I said, "As far as I know we're not hiring" she went right back to talking on the phone and left the store. If she can't even take the time to properly engage herself while asking for a job why would I ever believe that she would complete anything as an employee? Lesson to be learned: Don't do a half-ass job.

What does this job blog have to do with cupcakes?

Have you ever interviewed for a job that you REALLY wanted and the only thing that wasn't perfect about the situation was the fact that they decided to hire someone else?

This happened to me 3 months ago. To top it all off, when I received the rejection call I asked the employer if there was anything I could do to improve upon for future interviews. What did she say? "No, there really wasn't anything. You gave a great Powerpoint presentation, did well on all the interview questions and were very personable. We just had a large skill set to choose from." I was one of the top 3 for the position and was crushed by the competition. I spent 24 hours in mope-mode and decided to do something totally random...

This is where the cupcakes enter the scene. I am crazy for cupcakes. I love baking them. I love eating them. (And...I love the cupcakestakethecake Blog.) So, I walked into a busy bakery that has been in my town since before I was born and asked if..."they might be needing any extra help or hiring." Sure enough, they were hiring for a new store and I was offered a position about 2 weeks later.

I was worried about committing to bakery work even though I was searching for a career in the environmental field. My manager did ask what my future plans were and I honestly told her I was having trouble finding a job in my field but was utilizing all my strenghts (retail and customer service being two of them). She knew I had a Master's degree. She wanted to know about my retail experience and my work ethic.


So, to all of you recent grads out there, don't worry about your degree getting in the way of a temporary job OR a job completely unrelated to your degree. Focus on your skills, not your degree.

Holiday Help (a job)

As I mentioned in previous posts, try looking for businesses in town that are thriving. They may need extra help. Many retailers may have already hired for the holidays but I've still seen some hiring signs in my retail realm. Remember, there is a technique you can use to ask for a retail application. Be ready to work because "4th quarter sales" are crucial for companies. By they way, have you been in a Goodwill recently? The one near me is oozing with customers and might be worth checking out for a job. I know Goodwill also does job training.

Good luck!

Extra Cash

Last week I took a day off from The Bakery to work for my father. I was promised a sizable sum for a 10 hour job which involved "touching-up" chairs with varnish in a fine dining establishment. My day started at 4:15 am and ended at 6 pm. Even though the job was tedious and some of the restaurant employees were quite demeaning I'd say it was worth the money. (Note: I will never eat in that particular restaurant because the employees were total snobs and treated us like scum.)

Mowing lawns and babysitting are no longer for teenagers. I earned quite a lot of extra cash by babysitting through undergrad and graduate school. Do you have a knack for household things like cleaning, moving, organizing, sewing, repairing, etc.? Network with people you know in the community to see if anyone needs help. You never know who may pay you $$ to help put up a Christmas tree, repair kitchen cabinets, shuttle children, or take elderly people to the grocery store. You could say something like, "Hi Mrs. Such and Such. Yes, I hope you are doing well today. I'm still looking for a job in my field but I'm trying to earn a little extra cash by mowing lawns. Would you happen to know anyone who would be interested?"

Scientist in The Bakery

I will stand behind my years of retail experience. I work in a bakery now and actually enjoy my job even though it is totally unrelated to my academic background. (Yes, I could eat pastries all day long for free if I chose to do so but that is not why I enjoy my job.) First of all, it is nice to do manual labor sometimes---especially if you've been in school for awhile. Take a break from school and work with "the public" in the "real-world." You'll certainly get some practical work experience. Penelope Trunk has some words to say about retail jobs in her post called, "The new post-college prestige job is retail." You should check it out.

Temporary Jobs and Staffing Agencies

One of my co-workers used a temp agency and was eventually hired permanently. The American Staffing Association provides an easy way to search for temporary agencies by state, zipcode, type of position, and/or occupational category. I recommend searching by state or zipcode FIRST before refining by occupation. You may be qualified to do more than you think. I have never used a temp agency before but if you have used one and would like to provide some insight for the rest of us please leave a comment!

Should I Apply for this Job?

So, you have signed up for email alerts from many different job search engines. Your inbox has 30+ alert emails coming through everyday in addition to all of your regular emails. It is a lot to sort through. Which jobs should you apply for?

Some people apply for anything and everything online. Some people are more selective about which jobs they apply for online. While you will not know how many people may be applying for a specific job, you do know that there are lots of people looking for jobs at this time. My guess is that employers can probably find someone who has almost all of their required/requested skills. Personally, I tend to be more selective about which jobs I apply for online and have gotten pretty good at predicting who will call me back.

Now, on finances and job applications. These days the competition is stiff for un-paid internship positions and internship positions which clearly do not pay enough for one to live on their own or support anyone else. Sometimes it may be beneficial to take an un-paid or a low-paying internship. It depends on the organization and your financial situation. (Will it be a step towards full-time employment? How much is my health insurance going to cost? How will I pay my bills?)

Finally, as my brother says, "You can always tell them, 'no'." If the job sounds like a good fit but the salary or benefits make you uneasy, apply anyway. Salary and benefits may be negotiable.

Should Your School Find Employment for You?

Are you familiar with the Trina Thompson story? She's suing her school because she can't find a job. Here is a more recent article called, "Should Schools Be Required to Help Students Find Work?" from MSN which has a few good points. Here are some things worth noting:

1. A college degree does not guarantee a job. The same also goes for graduate and professional degrees.

2. We are in a recession. Most recent graduates do not have jobs. Many people with years of work experience do not have jobs.

3. Many recent graduates have moved back in with their parents.

4. It is your responsibility to take initiative. Do not expect hand-outs.

5. Don't dig yourself into a hole so deep you can't get out of it.

Craigslist and Scams

I think craigslist is an excellent place to look for jobs but I recommend using caution. There are many, many people looking for jobs and many people trying to scam those who are looking for jobs. I was nearly scammed about 3 weeks ago. If it sounds too good to be true then it probably is. If the ad asks for money in order to complete the application, then steer clear. The only jobs I have applied for through craigslist are ones which indicate the company or organization name on the ad and also have a website where you can find details about the positions. Trust your instincts. Does the website look legit? Is there a phone number and other contact information? Call and inquire about the job to make sure (Say something like, "I was calling to see if you were still accepting applications for ______.")

Alternatives

Many people are considering alternatives (some are listed below). However, they are not for everyone. Simply because you cannot get a job does not mean you will automatically be selected for one of these alternatives. The competition is stiff and the selection process can be very long. My be advice is to speak with someone involved in the organization now or previously to find out if it may be a viable option for you.

AmeriCorps
(I know at least 2 people who have been AmeriCorps members. Email joblessgenevieve@gmail.com if you want advice or recommendations. I'll see what I can get for you.)

JETT Programme (The Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme)

Peace Corps

Student Conservation Association

Teach for America

World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF)
(I know someone who has done this and loved it! Email joblessgenevieve@gmail.com if you want advice.)

Graduate/Professional School
(I've got plenty of insight on this one and plenty of friends who have been there.)

Know of an alternative that is not listed? Post your comment and let us know! Also, more information on 'the graduate school experience' is coming soon!

Job Applications and Closing Dates

+I recommend applying for jobs the day you discover them on the internet because there are LOTS of people looking for jobs right now. Applications may actually close before the official close date due to an overwhelming number of applicants. Trust me, I have been notified of this on several occasions.

+From my experience, job applications only available for a week before closing are most likely for internal hires.

What are you doing right now?

One of the most aggravating things about being unemployed is answering the question, "So what are you doing now that you have finished school?" Instead of saying, "I am unemployed", here are some statements with a positive spin:

+ "I am currently searching for a job in my field __________, and volunteering at __________."

+ "My training is in __________ and while I'm searching for a job I have become involved in __________."

+ "I have decided that in order to gain more experience in my field __________, I am taking a course in __________."

The bottom line is: DO NOT make yourself look like a bum unless you are a bum, in which case, get off your butt and do something.