The year’s fourth quarter (October, November, December) is almost upon us. That means retail , wholesale and logistics (delivery) companies are ramping up their capacity for the holiday shopping rush.

It means they’ll be adding hundreds of thousands of jobs to handle the increased demand. Most of those jobs are seasonal — when the holidays are over, so is the job. If you’re looking to make some extra cash for your own holiday spending plans, a temporary assignment with one of these companies could be the perfect solution.

You may choose to apply directly with the company, or go through a staffing agency such as Integrity. At Integrity, we don’t just drop you after your temporary assignment is finished. We’ll keep you in mind for future assignments, and notify you of job openings we think you’d be interested in.

While you can expect to have the seasonal assignment come to an end in late December-early January, it’s not a hard-and-fast rule. Many of our temporary associates have received offers of full-time employment from the company where they were placed. It’s a good way to get your foot in the door if that’s what you’re looking for.

Integrity’s seasonal associates are actually employed by us and “rented out” to our clients who need workers. Your paycheck comes from us, as well as other benefits you may not receive as a direct hire , such as immediate health insurance coverage, early advances from your paycheck, and worksite safety monitors (including COVID protections). However, we also have plenty of direct hire positions to fill if you prefer that route.

Because of the pandemic, this year’s Q4 (AKA peak season) can’t be predicted based on previous years. On the one hand, online shopping has gone through the roof, requiring many more workers to get the merchandise into customers’ hands in a timely fashion. On the other hand, unemployment rates are high so there’s lots of competition for those jobs.

Here are our best tips for getting ahead of the jobseeker crowd and landing yourself a seasonal assignment.

1. Familiarize yourself with the timing of the role.

We’re talking about both the duration (number of months) and the scheduling (day or night shift, number of days per week). Any of these factors may not fit with your life commitments. It’s better to know up front before wasting your time applying for a position you couldn’t accept anyway.

2. Apply early.

The early bird gets the worm! As qualified candidates present themselves to us (at an  Integrity Opportunity Center  or with an  online application ) we’ll be hiring as fast as possible to meet our clients’ deadlines. If you’re at the end of the line, you may miss out — even to some less qualified people.

3. Follow up.

Check back on the status of your application. We do email and/or call applicants afterwards, but there’s always the chance the message will get lost in your junk folder. You wouldn’t want to lose your chance because of that!

4. Make sure your paperwork is up to date.

The first thing you’ll need is a resume. Although not all seasonal jobs require a resume or previous work experience, you’ll be ahead of the game if you have one. Double check that all the info (such as your address) is current.

Another great thing to add to your resume is a reference from a previous employer or community leader (such as a school principal or church pastor). We know that what makes a good employee is as much about character as technical qualifications.

You should be sure to bring documents that establish your identity and employment eligibility. Check out this  website page  for a complete list.

5. Ask about temp-to-hire opportunities.

This means that you start out as a temporary associate, and if you perform to the client’s satisfaction, they hire you for a full-time staff position. If that’s your goal, please let us know. We can prioritize those types of job openings for you.

Seasonal opportunities are knocking. Open the door to your future today!