Is Seasonal Employment Right for You?
If you were asked, “what is seasonal employment?” how would you answer?
When you think of seasonal employment the first thing that likely comes to mind are retail workers in the holidays, hospitality workers in the summer season or even farm labourers. But you might be surprised to know that many businesses experience peak trading periods or need to cover spikes in illness or absence. Many organisations hire seasonally for business support and administrative staff giving you the opportunity to gain valuable corporate experience, learn new skills and build connections.
What Is Seasonal Employment and How Does It Work?
You might be wondering how seasonal work differs from other forms of temp work. Generally, demand for extra staff will increase at particularly busy periods such as Christmas when customer demand is high, or when more employees are ill or are taking annual leave. This means there are more temp roles available in lots of different industries and fields.
Seasonal roles will generally last around three months but can be shorter or longer depending on the season and the role. Temporary roles around Christmas are usually advertised as lasting from October or November through to January.
Put simply all seasonal roles are temporary roles, but not all temporary roles are seasonal!
5 Ways Seasonal Employment Can Work for You
Seasonal employment can be a great way to earn some extra cash at an expensive time of year, but these kinds of temporary jobs can have other benefits too:
1. Access high profile employers
The number of seasonal jobs on offer has more than doubled compared to last year with some of the UK’s largest employers in hospitality and retail set to hire additional temporary staff this year which means many high-profile companies will be offering temporary positions. Seasonal roles can be a great way to make connections within an organisation you might not otherwise be able to reach and get on the radar of hiring managers and senior staff. You might just find yourself with a chance to apply for a permanent role or gaining a valuable reference for your future job search.
2. Experience more flexibility
The 9-5 is not for everyone. Whether you are a student looking for experience, between permanent job roles or looking for a second job, temporary roles can be an extremely flexible solution allowing you to manage other commitments. However, working hours can be atypical which can be difficult to manage. London can also be a great base for further travel in Europe. Seasonal work gives you the flexibility to earn money to fund your adventures at peak periods and then take time to explore!
With this kind of role, you can also find yourself able to experience some flexibility in the industry you work in, which brings us on to…
3. Try out a new field or industry
Maybe you’ve always been interested in marketing or wondered what working in the finance industry is like. Temporary work is a great way to dip your toe into a new field or industry, get a feel for the skills and attributes required for a permanent role or just satisfy your curiosity without the commitment of a full-time job.
4. Learn new skills
If you are looking to develop specific administrative and business support skills to pursue a career in administration or interested in developing your wider, transferable skillset with soft skills such as time management, teamwork and problem-solving, then a temp role can be an efficient, quick way to develop new skills and brush up on old ones.
5. Improve your CV
If you are looking to move into a particular career but have struggled because of a lack of experience, then taking a temporary role is a great way to build an attractive CV. This is particularly useful if you are a student. A temp role over the holidays is ideal for getting ahead of the competition and showing employers you can handle yourself within a corporate environment. Seasonal roles can also be useful for preventing gaps appearing in your CV and shows adaptability, initiative, and drive.
So remember, if you are looking for business support and administration work then seasonal roles can be a fantastic opportunity for you.
Find Seasonal Business Support Roles in London with Australasian Recruitment Company
Whether you are new to London or you have been living here for a while, we know finding the right role can be tough. Connect with top employers, access career support and advice on working in London. Search our current vacancies to explore the latest permanent and seasonal roles available. Or get in touch to start a conversation.