While Christmas may seem a long way off, retailers are already gearing up for a busy holiday season. Beyond ordering inventory and keeping shelves stocked, a big way they prepare for the Christmas rush is to hire on holiday help. More than two in five unemployed Americans have been out of work for more than six months according to government statistics. With the unemployment rate currently at 9.1%, which equals about 14 million jobless Americans, the competition may be tougher than ever for temp employment.

Thousands of Jobs AvailableToys R Us

The key to scoring seasonal work is knowing where to look. Keep tabs on the latest job news to find out who's hiring. For instance, Toys "R" Us just announced they'll be adding 40,000 employees to its staff this holiday season. "At Toys "R" Us, one of the ways we differentiate ourselves is by employing a toy-trained workforce who can provide gift-givers sound toy-buying recommendations, and our seasonal staff is an important extension of our team," said Dan Caspersen, Executive Vice President, Human Resources, Toys "R" Us, Inc in a news release.  "We are proud to create tens of thousands of jobs across the country this Christmas, while providing the potential for hardworking individuals to find a permanent position with us."

Department store Macy's will be hiring 78,000 seasonal workers, a four percent increase over last year. According to CNN they're looking to fill positions in Macy's and Bloomingdale's stores, call centers, distribution centers and warehouses.

Temporary May Lead to Permanent PositionToys R Us

In the case of Toys "R" Us, it's quite common for high performing seasonal employees to become a permanent part of the staff. According to company officials, ten percent of the 2010 holiday workforce is still employed with the company. That's also what happened to Lisa DiVirgilio, who got a job at Ruby Tuesday to earn extra holiday cash. "However, the position then grew to become a permanent one. I guess the high for me was the fact that I had only expected employment for a few months, and stayed for the four years I went to school—which is a perk that some see from temporary employment," says DiVirgilio, now Marketing Manager for WyckWyre.com. "I have found that many employers look forward to seasonal help because while the extra hands are great, the best of the best often shine through. This can help an employer determine who to keep on beyond just the seasonal employment period to help out in a more permanent role."

Pinpoint an Industry

While the retail industry may hire the bulk of seasonal workers around the holidays, there are several other industries with positions to fill. Pinpoint an area where you could stand out from the crowd and highlight your relevant experience. Other industries looking for temporary workers include the hospitality industry and the food service industry. DiVirgilio says WyckWyre.com is an online recruiting solution for the food service industry and she expects to see a jump in employment opportunities through October. "We expect to see a big increase in our job postings on the site come mid-to-late October as employers seek to get people in place and trained for the positions required to get through the busy peak season," she says. So polish up that resume and practice your interviewing skills so you have a better shot at landing that seasonal job.

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