7 Ways to Turn a Seasonal Job Into a Permanent One

With Black Friday quickly approaching, retailers are starting to prepare for the onslaught of holiday shoppers, a new study finds.

Research from CareerBuilder revealed that retailers will be stocking up on additional staff this holiday season, with nearly 40% planning to hire seasonal workers this winter.

It's not just retail outlets that will bring on more employees. Employers in information technology, leisure and hospitality, and financial services also plan to hire seasonal staff this year.

Brent Rasmussen, president of CareerBuilder North America, said seasonal employment is expected to be somewhat better than last year and can lead to more than just extra income for workers. He said that nearly half of U.S. employers who are hiring seasonal workers plan to transition some into full-time, permanent staff.

"This is up 10 percentage points over last year and indicative of a growing trend where employers are test-driving candidates before committing to a long-term hire," Rasmussen said. "Seasonal work is a good way for job seekers to network, showcase their abilities and secure a permanent position in a variety of industries."

CareerBuilder offers job seekers several do's and don'ts for turning a holiday gig into a permanent one, including:

Do apply early: While some employers will hire seasonal employees in November and December, the majority stop accepting applications by the end of October.

Do provide good customer service: Nearly 60% of employers said taking charge in offering help to customers, instead of waiting to be asked for it, is an excellent way to differentiate yourself.

Do go above and beyond: Seasonal workers that want an employer to consider them for a permanent job should ask for more projects and offer up new ideas, both of which are recommended by close to 45% of hiring managers.

Do let the employer know your intentions: More than half of employers said holiday workers should let the hiring manager know up front that they are interested in a permanent role with the company. It will set them apart from other candidates.

Don't come in unprepared: One-third of employers tend to dismiss candidates who know nothing about their company or products. Make sure to check out the company's website and recent news announcements.

Don't focus on the discount: Nearly 40% of employers are turned off by candidates who seem more interested in the discount than the job opportunity. Wait for the employer to bring up the discount if one is available.

Don't show up in a competing brand: One of the biggest pet peeves for 18% of hiring managers is a candidate who comes to the interview wearing clothes or other merchandise from a competitor's store.

The study was based on surveys of more than 2,000 hiring managers and human resource professionals across a variety of industries and company sizes.

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Image: Thomas Sorenes

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This article originally published at BusinessNewsDaily here