For University of Memphis students who are seeking employment before the holiday rush, now is the time to apply.
"Students should start looking for a holiday position now," said Clay Woemmel, the assistant director of Career and Employment Services at The U of M.
Woemmel said Career Services assists students in seeking off-campus employment.
He said the best place to look for a holiday position is in retail and students have many positions to choose from.
"There are plenty of positions in sales, warehouse, partying and catering services," he said. "We (Career and Employment Services) do post part-time off campus positions on the e-Recruiting Web site, but the financial aid department handles jobs on campus," Woemmel said.
According to the National Retail Federation, getting a job or second job before the upcoming holidays is mainly about planning and some retail companies start as early as September or October. For some companies, the hiring process has become more accessible by using fewer paper applications and instead using in-store stations and Web site applications.
One U of M student said he is currently seeking employment before the holidays and that personnel offices sometimes seek seasonal employees as well.
"I usually work at my aunt's firm in the summer, but now I'm currently looking for a job," said Nathan Bradshaw, an engineering major." I worked enough in the summer so that I wouldn't have to work as much during the semester."
Bradshaw said extra money comes in handy for the upcoming holidays and finding a job now shouldn't be a problem.
"At my aunt's firm, I was the little guy who did the job that no one else wanted to do," Bradshaw said. "Hey, it's like, whatever pays."
While some students are seeking employment for the holidays, other students hold their position in the workforce as a seasonal floater.
"I'm at Target, so I go back every school break," said LaTonya Beard, a computer engineering major. "I started looking for that job at the beginning of the semester in August."
James Nabakowski, a civil engineering major, said that if students are seeking employment, they should avoid the rush.
"Look everywhere. Don't limit yourself and don't be lazy," Nabakowski said. "The malls have a lot of holiday jobs. Wolfchase Galleria Mall and Oak Court Mall are places that are always hiring."
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the retail industry is the largest seasonal or temporary occupation since 2002. Cashiers make up a huge number of that percentage and will be needed during the upcoming holidays.
Sylvia Turner, a psychology major, said she started her Christmas shopping early and that the demand for holiday shopping will increase seasonal hiring.
"I started my Christmas shopping early and holiday hiring is a must," she said.
Career and Employment Service's site, eRecruiting, assists students in resume- building tips among other useful resources. While going through their career service, Career and Employment Services provide mock interviews to prepare student for future interviews, Turner said.
The Career and Employment Services office is located in room 400 of Wilder Tower. Their Web site is www.people.memphis.edu/~univplace.
