As break approaches, scramble for holiday jobs begins

With the bustling holiday season on the horizon, some Ohio University students will be returning home to seasonal jobs, while others will be frantically filling out job applications "“ all in the hopes of earning some extra dough over the long break.

Natalie McGrew, a senior from Steubenville, has been employed at Macy's as a seasonal worker for two years and plans to work about 20-25 hours a week over break. McGrew said the job always seems to be waiting for her when she gets back from school.

"I was home one time and they were like, 'Natalie, are you coming back?'" McGrew recalled.

This year she also will work at a chiropractor's office for college credit.

Catherine Pomiecko, a sophomore from Solon, Ohio, is returning to her job at Applebee's as a car-side to-go server. She said OU's long break helped her cinch the job.

"They only hired me because I could come back for six weeks," Pomiecko said, adding that her willingness to return for the summer was also seen as a plus.

She said two of her friends found retail jobs last minute in the past at Gap and Victoria's Secret, and that most students tend to find seasonal retail jobs close to the position's start date.

Seasonal employment in the retail sector is expected to be up this year compared to last year, according to a Nov. 17 story from Forbes.com. Last year, retail jobs increased by 233,700 in November and 91,500 in December, the article stated, citing figures from spokesman Gary Steinberg of the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Matt Johnson, a sophomore from Ashville, Ohio, said he probably will be unemployed for the duration of break (although somewhat by his own choosing) because his small hometown has few job opportunities beyond McDonald's and Wendy's, where he said he would prefer not to work.

He did work at a fast-food burger outlet recently, and said that only under dire circumstances would he return there to work. Specifically, "If my family was living-out-of-a-cardboard-box-desperate."

UPS would have been a convenient alternative, Johnson said because he lives about five minutes away from one of the locations. However, he said he missed the hiring dates in Athens.

UPS plans to hire about 50,000 employees for the holiday season, according to a Nov. 16 Associated Press story. The shipping company said it could hire thousands of seasonal workers for full-time work as well.

But not all students will be searching for or returning to jobs in their hometown. Junior Montel Smith of Marion said he is staying in Athens over break and will work at Kroger on East State Street. Having an apartment in town motivated him to stay, he added.

A random sampling of a few Athens businesses suggests that there are a few bright spots for jobseekers, although some retail stores are already fully staffed for the holiday rush.

Maurice's at the Market on State on East State Street (formerly the University Mall) is not hiring for the holiday season because all employees "“ including three students "“ will be available to work, said Shanda Hunter, the store's assistant manager.

Bath & Body Works, also at the mall, is not hiring because the holiday positions were already filled by fall quarter, said store manager Mandy Schmitz. But she said applications are being accepted in case a position opens. Elder-Beerman "“located in the same mall "“ is currently accepting applications, but the hiring prospects are uncertain.

The Other Place on Court Street already has enough employees for the holiday season, said owner Sara Burquist.

Kroger on East State Street is accepting online applications.

But a few places are definitely hiring. Seaman's supermarket on West Union Street is looking for cashiers and deli workers. Themes on Court Street is hiring one employee to prepare gift-basket orders, said owner Chris DeMel. Down the street, Mountain Laurel Gifts is looking to employ additional people because student employees are leaving town for break and more people are expected to shop uptown for the holidays, said sales associate Abby Wood.

According to the AP article, employers are looking to hire full-time those employees who show a willingness to take on long or undesirable hours, are especially knowledgeable about products, and demonstrate superior customer service.