In the past few years, somewhere between 300,000 and 450,000 people have gotten holiday season jobs, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Is this year your year?
Getting a seasonal job can be a great way to make a little extra needed cash to get you through the holiday season or save up for a spring break vacation.
Unfortunately, some job ads or job offers are just scams that could leave you with less money than you started with! Here's how to know whether you're looking at a real job or not — and steps you can take to protect yourself!
1. Red Flag: They ask for money upfront for "supplies."
Legitimate employers will not ask you for money for things like "training fees," uniforms, background checks or other items.
2. Red Flag: The pay is unusually high for the work.
If a seasonal retail job claims things like an unusually high wage ($40/hour or more), a $500 sign-on bonus or something similar, trust your gut and do more research!
3. Red Flag: Communication is unprofessional.
If a recruiter is using a Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo or another email system address instead of a company's own email system, that can be a warning sign. Also, be on the lookout for spelling or grammar errors and pressure to respond quickly.
When you're looking for a seasonal job, make sure that you're working with a reputable company — one that has a real website, phone number, people you can talk to, a real address and proper onboarding. If you search for a company and get odd results (like an unprofessional website or no website at all), proceed with caution.
In addition, if you find a job posting on a website like Indeed, check out the company's website directly. Often, jobs will be posted there, as well. While you're on the company's website, see what other jobs are available and whether they match the advertised salary (or hourly) range from the other website. If the company is hiring retail associates at $20/hour and you see a listing elsewhere for $40/hour, you're probably looking at a scam.
If you do land a great job...
It's fun to get that extra money in the bank! Before you start spending it, come talk to one of our Certified Financial Counselors about the best way to spend, save and invest your income. We can help you stretch your dollars to achieve your goals, whether that's exiting the holiday season without debt, saving up for something special or investing for retirement.
We're looking forward to seeing you this holiday season! As always, we're here for you, and we're excited to talk to you about money, New Year's resolutions and more!
