Oct. 21, 2013
April Wefler
[email protected]
Halloween is fast approaching, and it’s time for students to start looking for seasonal employment.
According to Monster.com, 700,000 seasonal jobs are currently available nationwide.
Students’ personal experiences with seasonal employment differ, however.
Some students, like junior Gabrielle Soileau, an English major, have found their experiences to be disappointing.
“I had my eye on a job that I really, really want, and I want some temporary employment until that job becomes available,” she said, adding the job she wants is at the new theater in Chapel Hills Mall.
Soileau was hired at Spirit Halloween without an interview. She said that after she was hired, the company put her on an employee list and didn’t contact her for another 17 days about her work hours.
“I told them I didn’t think this was the employment for me, so they took me off the employee list. I quit without even working,” Soileau said. “[They’re] probably the most unprofessional company I’ve ever worked with.”
Those that are not part of the approximately 1,700 employed at UCCS or who are looking for a second or third job may have difficulty finding extra work, like sophomore Audrey Jensen, a communication major.
“I was looking for another job for extra money just ‘cause I was worried about food, gas, bills,” said Jensen, who works at Penrose Public Library. “I chose Kohl’s because I’ve always loved shopping there, and I thought it would be nice to get discounts, trying to get by in college.”
Jensen applied at Kohl’s, which Monster cited as a major seasonal employer, through a job site and then received a call from the company. “They said that my profile stood out from other people’s,” she said.
However, like Soileau, Jensen didn’t have a good experience with her seasonal job.
“No one would really talk to each other, none of the coworkers. At my last job, everyone knew everyone,” she said. “I guess I chose my library job over Kohl’s because that was guaranteed.”
Other students, like sophomore Amy Aiken, have been offered a permanent job from their seasonal jobs.
Aiken, a nursing major, moved to Colorado Springs this year and needed a job for the summer. Her brothers both worked at VillaSport Athletic Club and Spa, so she decided to apply for a job at its childcare program.
“It was really easy. I sent in an application, got a call, got an interview, got hired,” Aiken said.
As part of her job, Aiken helps take care of members’ children, ranging from 6 weeks to 12 years old, while their parents work out in the gym.
“I love working with kids. I really enjoy helping them out. I just always loved being around kids,” she said.
Aiken said that at the end of the summer, the company offered her a permanent part-time position. “They just felt like I was a person they wanted to keep around,” she said.
Aiken, along with Soileau, said she would look for seasonal work again.
“I’d really like to be seasonal at Barnes & Noble ‘cause they hire for Christmas temporarily,” Soileau said.
Jensen, on the other hand, said she wouldn’t try seasonal employment again.
“From hearing other people’s experiences, on how good a worker you are depends on whether you keep the job,” she said.