Holiday job seekers need to start applying now

Posted at: 10/22/2009 10:04 PM | Updated at: 10/23/2009 7:36 AM
By: Kayla Anderson, Eyewitness News 4; Charlie Pabst, KOB.com

New numbers released today show New Mexico's unemployment problem is getting worse, which means people hoping to land a job during the upcoming holiday shopping season need to start applying now.

The competition is tough this year, and a lot of businesses have already filled their holiday positions.

That doesn't bode well for job seekers, because experts say retail job postings online are down by 75 percent in the Albuquerque area.

New Mexico's Department of Workforce Solutions says the state's job growth at a 65-year low.

Jobing.com General Manager Randy Richardson said Thursday, " There are more people looking for fewer jobs this year."

As jobseekers start looking for holiday work, Richardson says it's slim pickings this year.

It used to be you could walk into your favorite store perhaps, fill out an app and you're pretty much going to get the job probably, but it's not the case this time," Richardson said. "You'll probably have to hit every store and maybe a couple different shopping centers, besides looking online."

Richardson's Web site averages about 1,100 job postings a day, but this year, retail jobs are down big time.

Richardson said, "The retailers have been impacted, so they need to get more production out of the current staff, without adding more — a lot of uncertainty that they're dealing with."

If you've got your heart set on retail, Target, Wal-Mart, Sears and Borders are all hiring — and so is Cost Plus.

Managers say you need to hurry.

"Of the three stores, I think Santa Fe is the one that we're hiring the most at right now, but we are actively looking for applicants," Cost Plus World Market General Manager Larry Walden said.

Cost Plus also says there's plenty of opportunity for seasonal work to turn into a permanent job.

"This is the time of year for us to go on the offensives, not on the defensive and pull back," Walden said. "We really see this as an opportunity to grow our business into the holiday season."

Job seekers may need to try something new, like taking that holiday job with a major shipping company. Both FedEx and UPS are hiring.

Job sites like jobing.com may also be helpful.

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