How to land a holiday job

Looking to make a few extra bucks to pay for those holiday gifts? Job-search experts predict that the lousy economy will mean fewer temporary positions this season, particularly in retail sales. But that doesn't mean you should give up without a fight.

"We're looking at a pretty bad year in terms of hiring," says James Pedderson, a public relations spokesman for Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Chicago-based consultants that help displaced workers find new jobs. "Companies don't have much confidence in sales and don't want to risk cutting into their slim profit margins with extra employees." Challenger estimates that holiday hiring will be fall well short of the 727,500 seasonal jobs averaged over the past decade.

In fact, one estimate suggests companies will be hiring 33 percent fewer hourly workers this season compared to last, according to a survey by SnagAJob, the largest hourly job Web site.

Even so, businesses can't survive without help, and many will be hiring staff to make sure they are providing adequate levels of customer service. So where should you look?

Your best bet for finding retail work is at big-box discounters, one of the shopping industry's few bright sports. According to SnagAJob's senior vice president of marketing, Cathy McCarthy, Wal-Mart, Target, and Kohl's are already hiring on its site, while Toys ‘R' Us plans on filling 35,000 seasonal positions. That's about the same number as they hired last year.  Right now, Toys ‘R' Us is hiring on SnagAJob.com for cashiers, toy assemblers and stocking and receiving positions.

Other job opportunities include companies like UPS and FedEx, which ramp up with additional employees to help with their holiday loads.

Wherever you seek employment, expect stiffer competition and be sure to cast a wide net. Here's what to do and what to expect:

• Begin searching now. Retailers may delay hiring this year, but when they're ready to begin, they'll choose from candidates they have already met and screened.
• Apply in person and online. While there are some new job sites that specialize in hourly-wage employment opportunities, the best course of action is to visit stores in person.  Going through a retail chain's Web site adds a layer of screening that will slow your search.  Many stores that are part of a national chain have the authority to hire workers on the spot, if there's an opening.
• Be flexible. It's critical in today's seasonal job market.  Express a willingness to work off hours and openness to last-minute scheduling changes. Don't walk into an interview and say you can't work a certain night or during certain times.  Previous experience is also a plus, because employers don't want to spend more time and money than necessary to train new workers.
• Don't rule out mom-and-pop stores. Such stores don't always advertise positions on the Internet. Applicants will face less red-tape because they probably will be talking directly to the owner -- the person who makes the hiring decision.
• Dress for success. It's always a good idea to wear your nicest clothes to an interview. It will help you stand out from those who wear jeans and T-shirts. Other tips: Be on time, show enthusiasm, and follow-up.
• Don't talk money. Your focus should be on convincing the interviewer why you'd be an asset to the company.
• Don't expect the moon. At least not this year. With unemployment at around 6 percent and more people taking part-time jobs because they can't find full-time work, employers have the upper hand. So don't expect many incentives. That said, many stores continue to offer a store/merchandise discount to all of their hourly employees.  For example, Toys ‘R' Us offers a 10 percent discount, while AMC Theatres allows its employees free movies, according to SnagAjob. Generally, some sort of company discount is the main perk that seasonal employees should anticipate.

—Marc Perton