Wreckovery

110,000 jobs added last month.

Yeah. Uh-huh.

This is an email I received from one of my job search engines today.

Several things you ought to note.

First of all that they think this is sagely advice to a (almost) 50 year old professional. NONE of these companies would think of hiring me or anyone like me. Too old. Too high paid (once upon a time). To likely to bolt when a real position comes up.

Secondly, that this is the BEST they can offer sagely-advice-wise right now. Part time seasonal jobs.

But most importantly add the number of people being potentially hired.

42,350.

And that's just 15 companies. More are likely hiring.

For the holidays.

I used to work in retail at a manager level. By now the holiday hiring is well under way, and has been since mid-September.

So nearly half of those 110,000 jobs added in October were likely for seasonal holiday work only. Probably more than half.

Well, huh. Hmm.

Keep that in mind as they tout the improvement in job creation the next few months.

Then watch the "first time unemployment claims" come January and February.

It's all bullshit.


CareerBuilder

15 companies hiring for the holidays
Kaitlin Madden, CareerBuilder Writer

Job seekers, get out your seasonal cookie cutters and hunt down some eggnog, it’s time to prepare for the holidays.

OK, so maybe it’s a little early for the festive cookies and cocktails, but if you plan on looking for work during the holiday season, it’s high time you started preparing.

Although full-time hiring tends to dip in the final quarter of the year, many companies add temporary positions during the holidays, positions which they start hiring for now. Yes, it’s true that many seasonal jobs fall into the retail category, but the holidays are also a busy time for businesses in shipping and warehousing, accounting, travel and hospitality, and the nonprofit sector so job openings in a variety of functions within these industries aren’t uncommon, either.

If you don’t work in an industry that typically needs extra hands during the holidays, consider taking a job outside of your field — it can still be beneficial to your job search.

“A large number of the unemployed have been unemployed for six months or longer,” says Raina Fuentes, office manager at Momentum Specialized Staffing, a recruiting firm in Phoenix, Ariz. “Taking a seasonal position can help lessen the noticeable gap in employment on your résumé. It will also allow you to take a break from the monotony job seekers face these days and help you go into your 2012 job search with a freshened state of mind and outlook on the future.” Plus, seasonal hiring can provide job seekers with valuable networking opportunities and the chance to learn transferable skills.

To help you jumpstart your holiday job search, here’s a look at 15 employers that currently have seasonal openings.

1. Aeropostale
Industry: Retail, fashion
Holiday job openings: 2,000+
Sample job titles: District managers, store managers, assistant managers, retail associates / role models
Location: Nationwide and Canada

2. A.M. Castle & Co.
Industry: Metals distribution/industrial/manufacturing
Holiday job openings: 50+
Sample job titles: Territory manager, inside sales representative, director of strategic sourcing, warehouse operator
Location: Nationwide

3. ANN INC. (Ann Taylor/LOFT)
Industry: Retail
Holiday job openings: 3,000-5,000
Sample job titles: Sales associates
Location: Nationwide

4. APAC Customer Services
Industry: Customer service, telecom
Number of openings: 250
Sample job titles: Customer service representative
Location: Ariz., Iowa, Fla., N.Y., Texas, Wisc.

5. DialAmerica
Industry: Telemarketing
Holiday job openings: 1,000
Sample job titles: Customer service agents, contact center sales agents for health care, financial services and Sirius satellite radio programs, team leaders trainers
Location: Calif., Fla., Ga., Ill., Neb., N.J., N.Y., Ohio, Penn., S.C., Tenn., Texas

6. Diamond National Adjusting, LLC
Industry: Adjusting/appraising
Holiday job openings 50
Sample job titles: Insurance adjuster/ appraiser
Location: Ala., Ariz., Ark., Calif., Colo., Fla., Ill., Ind., Iowa, Kan., Ky., La., Mich., Mo., Neb., Nev., N.M., Ohio, Okla., Texas

7. Helzberg Diamonds
Industry: Retail
Holiday job openings: 100+
Sample job titles: Retail sales associate, part time kiosk sales
Location: Nationwide

8. Headway Workforce Solutions
Industry: Workforce Solutions
Holiday job openings: 11,000+
Sample job titles: Store sales associates, store managers, assistant store managers, warehouse (distribution), loss prevention, call center, regional area supervisors, and retail corporate level positions.
Location: Nationwide

9. Massage Envy
Industry: Health and wellness
Holiday job openings: 2,500
Sample job titles: Sales associate, massage therapist, esthetician, clinic manager
Location: Nationwide

10. Medcor, Inc.
Industry: Occupational health care, health care
Holiday job openings: 50
Sample job titles: Registered nurse, paramedic, licensed practical nurse, IT developer
Location: Ill., Texas, N.M.

11. The Men’s Wearhouse
Industry: Retail
Holiday job openings: 70+
Sample job titles: Sales consultant, sales manager
Location: Nationwide

12. Rue 21
Industry: Retail
Holiday job openings: 100+
Sample job titles: Retail: District manager, store manager, retail sales associate; Corporate: merchandising, marketing, finance, HR, recruiting
Location: Retail positions nationwide; Corporate positions in Pittsburgh

13. The Salvation Army
Industry: Non-profit
Holiday job openings: 80+
Sample job titles: Store manager, assistant store manager, production associate, retail clerk, cashier, associate counselor, resource development manager, intake coordinator
Locations: Nationwide

14. Sleepy’s, LLC
Industry: Retail, mattresses
Holiday job openings: 100+
Sample job titles: Sales professionals, sales assistants, call center representatives
Location: Conn., Del., Md., Mass., N.C., N.J., N.Y., Penn., R.I., Va.

15. Spencer Gifts/Spirit Halloween Stores
Industry: Retail
A specific number of openings they expect to fill for the holidays: 20,000
Sample job titles: Costume designer, planning manager, assistant buyer, seasonal store manager, seasonal district sales manager, seasonal sales associates, seasonal assistant manager
Location: Nationwide