16 companies hiring for the holidays

While snow may not yet be falling and decorations may still be in storage, it’s time to start thinking about the holidays. Sure, it might be a little too early to adorn your house with tinsel and lights, but if you’re a job seeker, it’s not too early to begin your seasonal job search.

Some job seekers slow down their job hunt at the end of the year, but by doing so, they might be missing out on seasonal employment opportunities. Many companies add temporary positions during the holidays, openings that they’re starting to fill now.

Seasonal workers are needed across many industries and for a variety of job functions, and the positions have benefits beyond just a paycheck. Judi Perkins, a career coach with 22 years of recruitment experience and founder of Find the Perfect Job, shares some of those advantages:

• A holiday job can help fill a résumé a gap and give you experience that you can reference during an interview.
• It’s a connection that can prove to be beneficial after the holidays, either immediately or in the future. Take it as an opportunity to make yourself invaluable and build relationships.
• You might learn something new. Whether the employer is shorthanded and asks you to undertake a new task, or you volunteer to help with a big project, not only will the company remember you, but you’ll have new skills to market to other potential employers.   

Another plus to working during the holidays? A seasonal job can become a long-term career, because some companies end up permanently hiring temporary workers. According to CareerBuilder’s recent hiring forecast, 23 percent of employers are planning to transition some contract or temporary staff into full-time employees in Q4.

To kick off your holiday job search, here’s a list of 16 employers that currently have seasonal openings:

1. AT&T
Industry: Telecommunications
Sample job title: Retail sales consultant
Location: Nationwide

2. Bravo Brio Restaurant Group
Industry: Restaurants
Sample job titles: Hourly staff, server, assistant manager, general manager, sous chef
Location: Nationwide

3. Brooks Brothers
Industry: Apparel
Sample job titles: Store manager, assistant manager, visual coordinator, key holder
Location: Nationwide

4. Coinstar/Redbox
Industry: Automated retail
Sample job titles: Marketing, information technology, engineering, field support
Location: Nationwide

5. David Lerner Associates
Industry: Financial investment
Sample job titles: Sales, financial adviser
Location: Westport, Conn.; Teaneck, N.J.; Princeton, N.J.; Syosset, N.Y.; White Plains, N.Y.

6. Daymon Interactions: Club Demonstration Services
Industry: Retail
Sample job title: Event manager
Location: Nationwide

7. Gold Buyers at the Mall
Industry: Retail
Sample job titles: Retail sales, general manager, district manager
Location: Nationwide

8. J. Crew
Industry: Retail/distribution center/fashion
Sample job titles: Merchandise processor — all shifts, customer contact center — client specialist, loss prevention — all shifts
Location: San Antonio; Lynchburg, Va.; Arden, N.C.

9. Massage Envy
Industry: Health and wellness
Sample job titles: Sales associate, massage therapist, esthetician, clinic manager
Location: Nationwide

10. One Touch Direct
Industry: Customer service/sales
Sample job titles: Inside sales/telephone sales representative
Location: Tampa

11. Saks Fifth Avenue
Industry: Retail
Sample job title: Sales associate
Location: Nationwide

12. Sterling Jewelers
Industry: Retail/jewelry
Sample job titles: Full-time sales associate, part-time sales associate      
Location: Nationwide

13. TeleTech
Industry: Customer service/call center
Sample job titles: Customer service — work at home
Location: Nationwide

14. Toys“R”Us
Industry: Retail
Sample job titles: Store manager, sales, stock, assembling (holiday need), receiving specialist, maintenance/housekeeping, pricing and signage team member, HR supervisor
Location: Nationwide

15. Wells Fargo
Industry: Finance
Sample job titles: Personal banker (safe), teller, customer sales and service representative, private banker, consumer loan underwriter
Location: Nationwide

16. WMS
Industry: Gaming
Sample job titles: Information technology, engineering, field service, sales, artist
Location: Chicago; Waukegan, Ill.; Atlanta, Ga.