KENNEWICK, Wash. - With the holidays comes more food, more family time and, of course, more shopping. To keep up with that influx of shoppers, retailers often hire seasonal staff this time of year.
People who have customer service skills or a background in retail are highly valuable this time of year.
Last year, about 600 or so people were hired for seasonal work here in the Tri-Cities. While the exact numbers for this year aren't out just yet, the state estimates about 400 jobs have been filled so far in 2012.
The work typically begins around Thanksgiving and ends just after Christmas. But WorkSource said for some, it's a chance at a steady job.
"It's a good way to get your foot in the door, by going to work in a seasonal position, because if you're good at what you do and the employer likes you, if there's long term positions available, it's a great way to get your foot in the door," said Area Director Michelle Mann.
Mann said it's not just retail jobs, either. Places like UPS typically hire more drivers because of all the holiday packages.
She said a lot of places are now doing online applications so WorkSource doesn't work with holiday hiring as much, these days. But she said they're always happy to help job seekers navigate all the employers' web sites and have workshops on online applications.
