For some, taking on a seasonal job can be a great way to earn extra income to balance out the extra expenses that that come with the holidays. For those who are currently looking for long-term employment opportunities, a seasonal job can help pay the bills in the mean time until something steady turns up. Students often find seasonal jobs as to be a great way to gain experience in the workforce. In some cases, seasonal jobs can lead to long-term employment.

The Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages indicates that there were more than 8,900 retail establishments in Orange County in the fourth quarter of 2008. This includes 1,412 clothing and clothing-accessory stores; 590 sporting-good, hobby, book and music stores; and 338 general-merchandise stores.

That’s a lot of ground to cover. The occupations in which it will be easiest to find temporary employment are those requiring the least training, such as retail salesperson, cashier or stock clerk.

Obviously, a good place to start is by looking in The Register’s Jobs section under “Retail, Sales.” Or, visit OCJobFinder.com and search for “Seasonal.”

Personal references are a great way to get your foot in the door. If you have a friend working somewhere that sounds promising, ask your friend for a recommendation.

Another way to find opportunities is to simply show up at places that seem like good bets and ask if you may speak to a manager about applying for seasonal work. Be sure to dress professionally as you do this – first impressions count. Be prepared to fill out an application on the spot – that means having a résumé, along with names, addresses and phone numbers of past employers and references, on hand. On-the-spot hiring is not uncommon in retail.

Bill Quinnan is a freelance writer who lives in Orange County. Readers can send e-mail to him at bquinnan@sbcglobal.net. Bill cannot provide job leads.

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It may seem too early in the year to think about the holiday season, but if you’re hoping to take advantage of the boost in jobs that occurs in the retail sector, it’s time to start looking. An estimated 38 percent of consumers plan to begin their holiday shopping in November this year, and 40 percent have already started, according to the National Retail Federation.

Retailers often refer to the holiday-sales season beginning on Black Friday – the day after Thanksgiving, which is reportedly the busiest shopping day of the year and the day on which many retailers supposedly go from being “in the red” (in debt) to being “in the black” (making a profit). However, employers start preparing for Black Friday well in advance, finding and training workers to be ready for the holiday rush.

According to the National Retail Federation, the holiday season generates anywhere from 25 to 40 percent of annual retail sales for many retailers. In 2008, holiday sales accounted for 18.5 percent of total retail industry sales, according to the NRF. Jewelry stores were impacted most significantly, generating 25.5 percent of their annual sales in November and December.

Workers in demand
Understandably, this boost in sales creates a need for additional workers. The NRF estimates that retailers increased their employment by 1.5 percent during the holiday season in 2008, adding 231,000 workers.

Last year, average employment at general merchandise stores in Orange County was 4.7 percent higher in November and December than in the remainder of the year, an increase of about 1,170 jobs, according to the California Employment Development Department. General merchandise stores include department stores as well as warehouse clubs and superstores. Also included in the category are “dollar stores” selling a wide array of products.

Employment at clothing and clothing-accessory stores was 1.9 percent higher, about 400 jobs, and employment at sporting-goods, hobby, book and music stores (a category that includes toy stores) was 3.9 percent higher, about 330 jobs.

Bill Quinnan is a freelance writer who lives in Orange County. Readers can send e-mail to him at bquinnan@sbcglobal.net. Bill cannot provide job leads.

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Employment related articles as reported in the Handling Hard Times Blog:

1.4 million California workers make due with part-time
More than 1.4 million Californians were working part-time in September, not out of choice but because their hours had been cut or it was the only job they could find and they needed the money, reports the state Employment Development Department.

Unemployment extension vote may come Wednesday
Action on an extension of up to 20 weeks in unemployment benefits inched forward today when the U.S. Senate voted to end debate on the bill.

Calendar of job events (Nov. 3 and on)
Job events for the month of November

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Under the so-called cloture vote scheduled Tuesday, debate on the measure is limited in the Senate. Once that is approved, then a vote on the bill will be scheduled.

Read more about it here, on the Handling Hard Times blog.

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Competition for this year's holiday jobs may become a contact sport as workers battle it out for the positions that are available, says John A. Challenger, the head of the outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas.

Challenger noted there are 15.1 million Americans currently unemployed, including 1.1 million former wholesale and retail trade workers. (In California, there were more than 2.2 million people unemployed in September. Retail lost 110,200 jobs statewide over the last year and wholesalers cut 36,500 positions.)

Visit the Handling Hard Times blog to read Challenger's tips for nabbing a holiday job.

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New workforce projections show that California's allied health industry will be a key driver of economic growth in the state over the next two decades. By 2030, the allied health sector will comprise almost 1 million workers with a collective earning power of more than $116 billion in wages. At the same time, the study casts doubt on whether California's education system will be able to provide enough health workers to meet the growing demand.

The study -- conducted by Beacon Economics and funded by a grant to Fenton Communications from The California Wellness Foundation -- is the first to analyze long-term workforce projections for approximately 50 positions within the allied health field. These workers, often called the "backbone" of health care, make up 60 percent of all health jobs and include positions such as laboratory and x-ray technicians, nursing aides, respiratory therapists and medical secretaries.

The report, Help Wanted: Will California Miss Out on a Billion-Dollar Growth Industry?, forecasts changes in the state's population through 2030 to project the demand for allied health workers, who will be critical in caring for California's growing and graying population: In the next 20 years, the number of Californians over 65 will more than double, and the state will grow by 10.2 million people -- an increase equivalent to adding the state of Michigan.

"This study leaves no doubt that allied health workers will be in high demand," said Virginia Hamilton, executive director of the California Workforce Association. "And with the enormous value this workforce sector provides to the state's economy, making sure that Californians get the training they need to fill these good-paying jobs is an opportunity we can't afford to miss."

To meet the healthcare needs of the population in 2030, the report finds that California must grow and maintain an allied health workforce of approximately 988,000. This requires training up to 1 million allied health workers, who will be filling new jobs created through growth and positions opening up as workers exit the industry from death, retirement, and other reasons.

The article content was provided as a press release from PR Newswire.

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Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlour has revealed date of its Orange County comeback. The restaurant and ice cream shop will open Oct. 19 at The Shops at Mission Viejo. The opening will mark the return of an  old-fashioned ice cream shop that die-hard fans have missed for years. Farrell's will be accepting job applications from Sept. 28 through Oct. 3 at The Shops at Mission Viejo. 

See the Fast Food Maven's blog for more information.

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Kristi Beem was in a bind. After her husband lost his job this summer, the mother from Glen Rose, Texas, worried about the expense of sending her three kids back to school. "Our oldest daughter starts college in New York this fall," she said. "And we promised her a new computer."

They found the solution online. Using their daughter's college registration receipt, they purchased a student-discounted airline ticket for her flight to New York. Another website gave them a $100 deal on the laptop the daughter wanted. "We had to scramble all over the place," said Beem, "but we got her there."

The Beems aren't alone. As household budgets across the U.S. continue to shrink, more and more families are taking advantage of their child's student ID card to make ends meet. Traditionally thought of as "just for school," student discounts are hot for families.

"It's the biggest secret out there. Parents qualify for student discounts too," says Cyrus Shepard, president of GlobeStudentDiscount.com http://globestudentdiscount.com), a new website aimed at helping families connect with student deals. "As long as the parent is purchasing for their children, they save." The Seattle-based website provides all the top student discounts in one place online.

And discounts aren't just for kids. Kelli Hamblin, an elementary school teacher from Marshalltown, Iowa, purchased her new iPhone using an AT&T educational discount. "I look for deals whenever I buy airline tickets or software. I'd be crazy not to."

Corporate America has caught on too. Eager to attract loyalty from young customers, companies like Apple, Adobe and JetBlue all provide discounts for students. JetBlue offers 11% off for youth who purchase a special card, while Adobe slashes the cost of its popular software up to 80%, saving college students hundreds of dollars.

Shepard recommends first comparing discounts from several different companies. Software, travel and computer purchases are the best bets. He urges families to use websites like GlobeStudentDiscount.com to search for offers. "The US has over 70 million students, not including their parents and teachers," he notes. "And every single one of them qualifies for discounts."

The article content was provided as a press release from PR Newswire.

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Determined to empower unemployed men by providing them with the necessary professional attire that will build their self-esteem and help "sell themselves" during job interviews, Men's Wearhouse (NYSE: MW) has announced its second annual National Suit Drive, September 1-30.

Concerned that thousands of men are unable to secure employment because they lack the initial, yet vital, step of looking presentable for a job interview, the nation's leading retailer of men's tailored clothing, is working with more than 200 local non-profit organizations throughout the country to collect thousands of articles of professional attire to be used by individuals looking to re-enter the workforce. In addition, Men's Wearhouse will donate one tie for every suit donated to help complete the outfit.

All 1,065 Men's Wearhouse and Men's Wearhouse & Tux locations will serve as drop-off sites for gently used suits, dress shirts, sport coats, slacks, ties, belts and shoes that will be used to benefit men in need of these items to transition into the workforce. For a complete list of locations, please visit www.nationalsuitdrive.com.

"It became apparent many years ago that there was a long-standing need to help men who are striving for self-sufficiency," said George Zimmer, CEO and Chairman of Men's Wearhouse. "We started a Merchandise Donation Program to provide professional clothing to nonprofit organizations serving these men. However, our program could not meet the demand, so we implemented the National Suit Drive to assist us in our efforts to help less fortunate men by giving them a renewed sense of dignity and respect."

Last year, the inaugural suit drive garnered 125,000 professional items over a two-month period. This year, the company has set a goal of 150,000 items despite the economic downturn and its shortened duration this year.

"The suit may not necessarily make the man, but if you talk to one of the thousands of men who received a suit last year from our inaugural suit drive, they'll say it definitely made a difference in their confidence. I guarantee it," said Zimmer.

"We are very excited to again work together with Men's Wearhouse on the National Suit Drive campaign," said Jerri Rosen, CEO of Working Wardrobes in Orange County, CA., one of the more than 200 non-profit organizations working with Men's Wearhouse on the national event. "Proper professional attire really makes a difference in our client's life. With these donations, men will have the opportunity to walk into an interview with confidence -- an essential step toward economic stability."

The article content was provided as a press release from PR Newswire.

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The AARP Foundation Women's Scholarship Program today announced a $1.5 million grant from the Walmart Foundation that will help 450 women aged 40 and up receive job training and educational opportunities that will help support themselves and their families.

"In this economy more than ever, workers need the right skills and training to increase their earnings potential. Women in particular don't always have the resources in the second half of life to access the education they need," said Robin Talbert, AARP Foundation president. "We are so pleased to work with the Walmart Foundation to provide underserved women with opportunities to expand their career options in later life."

The AARP Foundation Women's Scholarship Program provides scholarship funding to women with moderate-to-low-incomes and limited financial resources. Scholarships help women pay for public or private secondary school, including community colleges, technical/vocational schools and four-year universities. Winners can use funds for tuition, fees and books.

Nearly twice as many women as men will face poverty in their retirement years, according to data from AARP. AARP data also reports that women earn 77 cents on the dollar compared to men - which translates to an average of $250,000 less over their work lives to invest in retirement.

In 2008-- the Women's Scholarship Program's first year--more than 100 scholarships ranging from $500 to $5,000 were awarded. This year, more than 1,000 applications are under review and winners will be announced later this month.

To be eligible for the scholarships, applicants must be:
• Women aged 40 or over
• Able to demonstrate financial need
• Enrolled in an accredited school or technical program within 6 months of the scholarship award date.

To apply, women can visit aarpfoundationwlc.org/.

For more information on the Walmart Foundation and its workforce development efforts, visit walmartfoundation.org.

The article content was provided as a press release from PR Newswire.

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