Summer Hiring to Hold Steady, According to CareerBuilder

   Published 2011-05-19

Chicago — May 19

The competition for summer gigs is expected to remain stiff this year as more workers use seasonal work to get their foot in the door for long-term opportunities, according to CareerBuilder’s annual Summer Job Forecast.

Twenty-one percent reported they plan to hire seasonal workers this summer, on par with last year. More than half (57 percent) of these employers said they will be considering some summer hires for permanent positions. More than 2,800 hiring managers participated in the nationwide study, which was conducted from February 21 to March 10.

“More than half of employers reported they treat summer jobs as extended job interviews,” said Brent Rasmussen, President of CareerBuilder North America. “Summer employment is a great way for workers to network, test-drive different career paths and earn permanent placement within an organization. It’s still a highly competitive hiring environment, so you want to make sure you apply early, highlight specific accomplishments in your resume and thoroughly research the company before the interview.” 

Fifty-eight percent of employers reported they will pay $10 or more for their summer positions. Thirty-one percent will pay between $8 to $10 and eight percent will pay $20 or more. While Retail and Hospitality jobs most often come to mind in terms of summer employment, employers also plan to hire in the following areas:

• Office Support

• Customer Service

• Information Technology

• Engineering

• Research

• Landscape Maintenance

• Sales and Telemarketing

• Construction/Painting

• Camp Counseling 

While 35 percent of employers reported that they typically complete their summer hiring by April, 45 percent complete it in May while 20 percent will hire in June and beyond. 

Source: CareerBuilder