{"id":10573,"date":"2025-11-16T16:33:35","date_gmt":"2025-11-16T20:33:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kerryhannon.com\/?p=10573"},"modified":"2025-11-16T16:33:35","modified_gmt":"2025-11-16T20:33:35","slug":"the-job-market-sputters-heres-how-seasonal-hiring-offers-a-lifeline","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kerryhannon.com\/?p=10573","title":{"rendered":"The job market sputters, here&#8217;s how seasonal hiring offers a lifeline"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"byline yf-1k5w6kz\">\n<div class=\"byline-attr yf-1k5w6kz\">\n<div class=\"byline-attr-logo yf-1k5w6kz\">Elizabeth Armitage had been unemployed for more than two months after a layoff, when she was hired for a contract stint as the study abroad coordinator at Bentley University in Waltham, Mass.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"body-wrap yf-1sauy26\">\n<div class=\"body yf-h0on0w\" data-testid=\"article-body\">\n<div class=\"bodyItems-wrapper\">\n<p class=\"yf-1090901\">\u201cI was looking for anything at that point,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1090901\">A month later, she became a full-time employee.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/finance.yahoo.com\/news\/while-the-job-market-sputters-seasonal-hiring-offers-a-lifeline-110011604.html?soc_src=social-sh&amp;soc_trk=tw&amp;tsrc=twtr\">Read on Yahoo Finance<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1090901\">\u201cOnce the school year started, they needed some boots on the ground in the position ASAP,\u201d Armitage said. \u201cI call it the longest work interview ever. But it gave me a chance to get to know the team.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1090901\">For job seekers, standing out in this brutal job market is difficult. A seasonal gig can be a side door to full-time work.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1090901\">Although it\u2019s tough to get a solid take on the job market since the government shutdown has halted the release of the US Department of Labor\u2019s monthly employment reports,\u00a0<a class=\"link yahoo-link\" href=\"https:\/\/finance.yahoo.com\/news\/theres-no-jobs-report-today-heres-what-it-mightve-shown-133019495.html\" data-i13n=\"cpos:1;pos:1\" data-ylk=\"slk:by most accounts;cpos:1;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" data-rapid_p=\"8\" data-v9y=\"1\">by most accounts<\/a>, it\u2019s not pretty out there for job seekers.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1090901\">\u201cEmployment is expected to further weaken in the fourth quarter and post extremely subdued gains in 2026,\u201d according to Diane Swonk, chief economist at KPMG. \u201cThe economy is powering forward, aided by a boom in AI \u2026 without generating many jobs.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1090901\">Per Swonk, we are in the midst of \u201ca jobless boom.\u201d It\u2019s fueled by factors such as cuts to the federal workforce, federal funding freezes, tariffs, and curbs to immigration.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1090901\">However, grabbing hold of a short-term contract or seasonal position can provide a potential pathway for frustrated job seekers.<\/p>\n<h1 class=\"yf-1090901\"><strong>Muted hiring this season<\/strong><\/h1>\n<p class=\"yf-1090901\">Before you get too amped up about this year\u2019s seasonal openings, keep this in mind: Hiring announcements from US employers have been limited so far, with only a handful of companies making public commitments to holiday staffing, according to job placement firm Challenger, Gray &amp; Christmas. The firm is<a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/www.challengergray.com\/blog\/seasonal-retail-hiring-2025-outlook\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-i13n=\"cpos:3;pos:1\" data-ylk=\"slk:projecting;cpos:3;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-rapid_p=\"14\" data-v9y=\"1\">\u00a0projecting\u00a0<\/a>the smallest seasonal gain in retail hiring since the 2009 recession.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1090901\">\u201cSeasonal employers are facing a confluence of factors this year: tariffs loom, inflationary pressures linger, and many companies continue to rely on automation and permanent staff instead of large waves of seasonal hires,\u201d Andy Challenger, Challenger, Gray &amp; Christmas\u2019s vice-president, said in a statement.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1090901\">\u201cWhile we could see a late hiring push if holiday sales surprise to the upside, the cautious pace of announcements so far suggests that companies are not betting on a big seasonal surge,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1090901\">Historically, postings for holiday seasonal contract workers start ramping up in September and peak in November.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"read-more-wrapper\" data-testid=\"read-more\">\n<h2 id=\"the-advantages-of-saying-yes-to-a-temporary-job\" class=\"header-scroll yf-gn6wdt\"><strong>The advantages of saying yes to a temporary job<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p class=\"yf-1090901\">\u201cIn this market, staying engaged and visible is key,\u201d Leanne Rodd, chief talent officer at recruiting firm<a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/www.flexprofessionalsllc.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-i13n=\"cpos:5;pos:1\" data-ylk=\"slk:FlexProfessionals;cpos:5;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-rapid_p=\"17\" data-v9y=\"1\">\u00a0FlexProfessionals<\/a>, said. \u201cTaking a project or contract opportunity that genuinely fits your skills and interests can be a powerful way to demonstrate value, build relationships, and keep your job search momentum going.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1090901\">You never know where unexpected opportunities can lead.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1090901\">\u201cEven if a contract role doesn&#8217;t lead to permanent employment, the value of an expanded network and new skill development remains,\u201d Rodd said. \u201cEspecially in a cautious hiring climate, this kind of arrangement lets both the job seeker and hiring team test the waters without compromising on quality or commitment.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1090901\">For Armitage, the combination of her background in project management and administrative work made the fit work. As an undergraduate, she had also worked at the university she attended. \u201cI played that previous university experience as a strength,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1090901\">During hectic times of the year \u2014 certainly, the holiday shopping season \u2014 jobs are posted to carry companies through the uptick in demand.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1090901\">But you need to keep an open mind. Although she was looking for a hybrid position where she could work remotely some weekdays, Armitage is fully in person. The fact that she was willing to do that gave her a leg up, she said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1090901\">Her shift from contract work to a permanent position is not an anomaly.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1090901\">Roughly 1 in 4 of FlexProfessionals contract placements converted to direct hires last year, often because both sides discovered a great match after they had the chance to work together.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1090901\"><a class=\"link \" href=\"mailto:%20kerry.hannon@yahooinc.com\" data-i13n=\"cpos:6;pos:1\" data-ylk=\"slk:Have a question about retirement? Personal finances? Anything career-related? Click here to drop Kerry Hannon a note.;cpos:6;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-rapid_p=\"18\" data-v9y=\"1\"><strong><em>Have a question about retirement? Personal finances? Anything career-related? Click here to drop Kerry Hannon a note.<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"advice-for-seasonal-job-seekers\" class=\"header-scroll yf-gn6wdt\"><strong>Advice for seasonal job seekers<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p class=\"yf-1090901\">For retail jobs or restaurants, stop by in person at an off-peak time and ask to talk to the manager or assistant manager. Be clear that you\u2019re available to work odd hours and are flexible to be on-site when a peak swell arrives unexpectedly and they need an extra hand.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1090901\">Your enthusiasm, particularly if you are already a customer, can go a long way to getting you in the door and helping you stay there postseason.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1090901\">Showing your curiosity and interest in the employer and the field can set you up for a future role. Previous experience helps, but it\u2019s not a must when seasonal demand surges.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1090901\">\u201cA seasonal job will expose you to people that you might not have met, and you never know where a job opportunity will emerge,\u201d Career<a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/jaynemattson.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-i13n=\"cpos:7;pos:1\" data-ylk=\"slk:Coach;cpos:7;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-rapid_p=\"19\" data-v9y=\"1\">\u00a0Coach<\/a>\u00a0Jayne Mattson said.<\/p>\n<div class=\"byline-attr yf-1k5w6kz\">\n<div class=\"byline-attr-logo yf-1k5w6kz\"><a class=\"primary-link fin-size-small yf-1211h5v\" href=\"https:\/\/finance.yahoo.com\/author\/kerry-hannon\" target=\"_self\" data-ylk=\"elm:author;elmt:link;itc:0;slk:Kerry%20Hannon;sec:content-canvas\" data-rapid_p=\"2\" data-v9y=\"1\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"byline-attr-logo-img yf-1k5w6kz\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/rmVzdumEqNVj03M5WziCpA--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTgwO2g9ODA7Y2Y9d2VicA--\/https:\/\/o.aolcdn.com\/images\/dims?image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fo.aolcdn.com%2Fimages%2Fdims%3Fimage_uri%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fo.aolcdn.com%252Fimages%252Fdims%253Fimage_uri%253Dhttps%25253A%25252F%25252Fo.aolcdn.com%25252Fimages%25252Fdims%25253Fimage_uri%25253Dhttps%2525253A%2525252F%2525252Fs.yimg.com%2525252Fos%2525252Fcreatr-uploaded-images%2525252F2023-07%2525252F41712030-1c23-11ee-bcf7-7d286db2677e%252526compress%25253D1%252526progressive%25253D1%252526quality%25253D75%252526client%25253Dhawkeye%252526signature%25253D1de715733bdefcb02d735079f8145447d5b31ff0%2526compress%253D1%2526progressive%253D1%2526quality%253D75%2526client%253Dhawkeye%2526signature%253D850fb3720e7261df724b58ed79f7f65a79a681be%26compress%3D1%26progressive%3D1%26quality%3D75%26client%3Dhawkeye%26signature%3D4f2b35afece555fd336b1d5801a4fe34b86903bf&amp;compress=1&amp;progressive=1&amp;quality=75&amp;client=hawkeye&amp;signature=a5075ca77bffbb522c38a04e6704e3941da848c2\" alt=\"Kerry Hannon\" \/><\/a><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"byline-attr-author yf-1k5w6kz\"><a class=\"primary-link fin-size-large noUnderline yf-1211h5v\" href=\"https:\/\/finance.yahoo.com\/author\/kerry-hannon\" target=\"_self\" data-ylk=\"elm:author;elmt:link;itc:0;slk:Kerry%20Hannon;sec:content-canvas\" data-rapid_p=\"3\" data-v9y=\"1\">Kerry Hannon<\/a>\u00a0<span class=\"byline-attr-meta-separator yf-1k5w6kz\" data-svelte-h=\"svelte-1yy7aps\">\u00b7<\/span> Senior Columnist<\/div>\n<div class=\"byline-attr-author yf-1k5w6kz\"><em>Kerry Hannon is a Senior Columnist at Yahoo Finance. She is a career and retirement strategist and the author of 14 books, including &#8220;<\/em><a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/www.hachettebookgroup.com\/titles\/kerry-hannon\/retirement-bites\/9781541705845\/?lens=publicaffairs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-i13n=\"cpos:8;pos:1\" data-ylk=\"slk:Retirement Bites: A Gen X Guide to Securing Your Financial Future,;cpos:8;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-rapid_p=\"20\" data-v9y=\"1\"><em>Retirement Bites: A Gen X Guide to Securing Your Financial Future,<\/em><\/a><em>&#8221; &#8220;<\/em><a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/kerryhannon.com\/?page_id=9253\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-i13n=\"cpos:9;pos:1\" data-ylk=\"slk:In Control at 50+: How to Succeed in the New World of Work;cpos:9;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-rapid_p=\"21\" data-v9y=\"1\"><em>In Control at 50+: How to Succeed in the New World of Work<\/em><\/a><em>,&#8221; and &#8220;Never Too Old to Get Rich.&#8221; Follow her on\u00a0<\/em><a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/bsky.app\/profile\/kerryhannon.bsky.social\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-i13n=\"cpos:10;pos:1\" data-ylk=\"slk:Bluesky;cpos:10;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-rapid_p=\"22\" data-v9y=\"1\"><em>Bluesky<\/em><\/a><em>.<\/em><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"yf-1090901\"><a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/preferences.newsletters.yahoo.net\/subscribe\/mindyourmoney\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-i13n=\"cpos:11;pos:1\" data-ylk=\"slk:Sign up for the Mind Your Money newsletter;cpos:11;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-rapid_p=\"23\" data-v9y=\"1\"><strong>Sign up for the Mind Your Money newsletter<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1090901\"><a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/finance.yahoo.com\/topic\/personal-finance\" data-i13n=\"cpos:12;pos:1\" data-ylk=\"slk:Click here for the latest personal finance news to help you with investing, paying off debt, buying a home, retirement, and more;cpos:12;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-rapid_p=\"24\" data-v9y=\"1\"><strong>Click here for the latest personal finance news to help you with investing, paying off debt, buying a home, retirement, and more<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1090901\"><a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/finance.yahoo.com\/news\/\" data-i13n=\"cpos:13;pos:1\" data-ylk=\"slk:Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo;cpos:13;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-rapid_p=\"25\" data-v9y=\"1\"><strong>Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo\u00a0<\/strong><\/a><a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/finance.yahoo.com\/news\/\" data-i13n=\"cpos:14;pos:1\" data-ylk=\"slk:Finance;cpos:14;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-rapid_p=\"26\" data-v9y=\"1\"><strong>Finance<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"view-cmts-8e73277d-4475-478b-aa62-cef5fc12a4f9\" class=\"view-cmts yf-h6xk9k\" data-testid=\"view-comments\">\n<div class=\"icon fin-icon inherit-icn sz-x-large yf-sv6wwp\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding-bottom:20px; padding-top:10px;\" class=\"hupso-share-buttons\"><!-- Hupso Share Buttons - http:\/\/www.hupso.com\/share\/ --><a class=\"hupso_toolbar\" href=\"http:\/\/www.hupso.com\/share\/\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/static.hupso.com\/share\/buttons\/share-small.png?w=640&#038;ssl=1\" style=\"border:0px; padding-top:5px; float:left;\" alt=\"Share Button\"\/><\/a><script type=\"text\/javascript\">var hupso_services_t=new Array(\"Twitter\",\"Facebook\",\"Google Plus\",\"Pinterest\",\"Linkedin\",\"StumbleUpon\",\"Digg\",\"Reddit\",\"Bebo\",\"Delicious\");var hupso_background_t=\"#EAF4FF\";var hupso_border_t=\"#66CCFF\";var hupso_toolbar_size_t=\"small\";var hupso_image_folder_url = \"\";var hupso_url_t=\"\";var hupso_title_t=\"The job market sputters, here&#039;s how seasonal hiring offers a lifeline\";<\/script><script type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/static.hupso.com\/share\/js\/share_toolbar.js\"><\/script><!-- Hupso Share Buttons --><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A seasonal or contract gig can provide an entry point to full-time work.<\/p>\n<div style=\"padding-bottom:20px; padding-top:10px;\" class=\"hupso-share-buttons\"><!-- Hupso Share Buttons - http:\/\/www.hupso.com\/share\/ --><a class=\"hupso_toolbar\" href=\"http:\/\/www.hupso.com\/share\/\"><img src=\"https:\/\/static.hupso.com\/share\/buttons\/share-small.png\" style=\"border:0px; padding-top:5px; float:left;\" alt=\"Share Button\"\/><\/a><script type=\"text\/javascript\">var hupso_services_t=new Array(\"Twitter\",\"Facebook\",\"Google Plus\",\"Pinterest\",\"Linkedin\",\"StumbleUpon\",\"Digg\",\"Reddit\",\"Bebo\",\"Delicious\");var hupso_background_t=\"#EAF4FF\";var hupso_border_t=\"#66CCFF\";var hupso_toolbar_size_t=\"small\";var hupso_image_folder_url = \"\";var hupso_url_t=\"\";var hupso_title_t=\"The job market sputters, here&#039;s how seasonal hiring offers a lifeline\";<\/script><script type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/static.hupso.com\/share\/js\/share_toolbar.js\"><\/script><!-- Hupso Share Buttons --><\/div>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":10244,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[59,329,597],"tags":[139],"class_list":["post-10573","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-careers","category-job-search","category-yahoo","tag-job-search"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kerryhannon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/yahoologo.png?fit=334%2C88&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3YFQS-2Kx","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kerryhannon.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10573","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kerryhannon.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kerryhannon.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kerryhannon.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kerryhannon.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=10573"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/kerryhannon.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10573\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10574,"href":"https:\/\/kerryhannon.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10573\/revisions\/10574"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kerryhannon.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/10244"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kerryhannon.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=10573"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kerryhannon.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=10573"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kerryhannon.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=10573"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}