How to Stand Out as a Seasonal Worker: Tips for Success

Posted on 11/27 by Erin Helms

Congratulations, you’ve made the smart decision to take a temporary seasonal job! Your bank account will thank you for the extra deposits from now through the end of the year, or whenever the job ends. But if you’re between full-time jobs, or if you’re thinking about changing careers, a temporary job, even if it’s a seasonal one, can be the starting point of a brand new career. You’re giving yourself the opportunity to meet people who might be able to help you advance your career in the future or, if you’re fortunate enough, you might be making an excellent case for your temporary manager to want to hire you full-time at the end of the season. It’s in your best interest to make a great impression during your seasonal job and stand out from people who are just there for the extra cash. Here’s how to stand out as a seasonal employee and set yourself up for success in the future.

Treat this job as an audition.

You want to be the best possible employee you can for the duration of this season. Show up on time. Be dressed appropriately from the start -- if you need to wear comfortable shoes because you’ll be on your feet all day, do that from the beginning. If you need to rely on mass transit to get to work, memorize the schedule you need in order to always be on time, if not a little early. Greet your coworkers and have a great attitude toward them. Be willing to help however needed. Offer to work extra hours or shifts to provide additional coverage.

Keep a positive attitude.

If you’re working in a stressful position, whether that’s customer-facing or behind-the-scenes in an environment where time is of the essence and every moment matters, do your best to keep a positive attitude. Getting stressed out or losing your temper will add to everyone’s stress and frustration and it will give the impression that you have a bad attitude overall. This isn’t asking for perfection; it’s more about making the best of a situation and dealing with your bad interactions in a professional way when the time is appropriate.

Raise your hand often.

If you’re working in a stressful position, whether that’s customer-facing or behind-the-scenes in an environment where time is of the essence and every moment matters, do your best to keep a positive attitude. Getting stressed out or losing your temper will add to everyone’s stress and frustration and it will give the impression that you have a bad attitude overall. This isn’t asking for perfection; it’s more about making the best of a situation and dealing with your bad interactions in a professional way when the time is appropriate.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions.

If you’re new to whatever kind of work you’re doing as a seasonal employee, and you’re not really sure how to handle a certain task, ask! It’s better to ask for clarification than to have to do a job twice. Confirming instructions and expectations is a great way to show your manager you want to do the job well and correctly, which helps keep things moving efficiently. But this also goes for future opportunities: If you’re really enjoying the work you’re doing on this assignment, it doesn’t hurt to ask your manager if other opportunities like this might be available in the future. Also ask what you can do to find jobs like this, or whether the company might have an open position after the holidays that you could be considered for. Ask, too, what skills you might need to become a viable candidate for an open position. Showing interest will help indicate that your manager should keep an eye on you and keep you in mind for the future.

Discover Seasonal Jobs Today!

Temporary, seasonal jobs are a great way to get your foot in the door, meet new people, learn new skills and earn some extra money, but it’s also a way to make a great impression and create connections that can help you in the future. Companies need reliable people who they can count on, bringing back some temporary workers season after season; but sometimes temporary jobs do turn into permanent job opportunities. All you can do is try your best to make a great impression, work hard to do a good job, and let people know you’re interested. Opportunities come from unexpected places all the time!

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