'Tis the Season to Try Seasonal Work
By Guest Blogger Paula Reuben Vieillet, President of Employment Options Inc.
As the holiday season approaches, you may start noticing 'seasonal' job openings, typically available in shopping malls and retail establishments in your community. This is a good time to gain work experience and explore the types of jobs that may suit your needs.
Here are a few reasons a seasonal job may help you as you look for permanent employment, including options for working from home during the holidays.
Gain work experience
In the weeks before the prime holiday season, many companies need more employees than during the rest of the year. Because they're hiring a large number of employees quickly, your interest in a position may be more important than your work history.
Each year, more companies hire for seasonal work-from-home positions. These jobs include: customer service, sales, tech support (various levels), call center representatives, video gaming specialists, healthcare support, outbound telemarketing, order taking/review, and more.
Build your resume
Seasonal positions may help bridge employment gaps on your resume. They show proven experience and that you are ready, willing and able to succeed. They also help you to develop new or strengthen existing skills through training.
Training programs for seasonal positions are often short – sometimes less than a week and many times only a few days. You're usually expected to learn a very specific task for the season — such as packing trucks, stocking shelves, answering customer service calls, or taking orders over the phone. With new or enhanced skills, you can update your resume.
Find out if working from home works for you
Working at home takes self-discipline and a proper work environment. Seasonal work allows you to test your level of comfort setting up a work space in your home and how it affects others living with you. The key is that seasonal employment is temporary so it allows you to get a feel for what it takes to work virtually. Our blog post, Make Working from Home Work for You, can give you a look into what working from home is like and if it might be a good fit for you.
Land a permanent position
Seasonal work lets you show your employer your skills, abilities, work ethic and your reliability — potentially making it easier for them to hire a seasonal worker for a permanent position later. It saves them time, money and effort looking for new applicants.
This transition from seasonal to permanent is easier for the employee too because you've already proven that you’re a good fit for the position. A true win-win situation!
Seasonal work and Ticket to Work
While you may be able to find seasonal work in the community by visiting local stores, working with a Ticket to Work (Ticket) program service provider may help you find other opportunities, including work-from-home jobs. Once you start working in a seasonal position, make sure that you remember to report your wages to avoid a benefit overpayment.
Social Security's Ticket program supports employment for people ages 18 through 64 who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and/or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). The program is free and voluntary. Eligible people with disabilities can find a path to employment by working with service providers, who help with resume writing, interview tips and transitional support.
About the Author
Paula Reuben Vieillet is President of Employment Options Inc., a Social Security Employment Network for the Ticket to Work program. Her company, which specializes in Work at Home employment for those receiving SSDI or SSI, assists Ticketholders in 47 states with free job placement and career services and also offers community job placement.
Learn more
You can call the Ticket to Work Help Line at 866-968-7842 or 866-833-2967 (TTY) Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET. Ask a representative to send you a list of service providers or find providers on your own with the Ticket program Find Help tool.
