Act now to get a holiday retail job

If you want a part-time retail job this year, act now. The competition is stiff.

Surveys indicate that discounters such as Wal-Mart and Target expect the best holiday sales bumps, but job hunters should look beyond those kinds of salesclerk jobs.

The human resource consultancy of Challenger, Gray & Christmas suggests these alternate holiday hiring possibilities: shipping, receiving, warehousing, information technology, security, accounting, transportation, catering, restaurant service, cooking, bar service, marketing and entertainment, including movie theaters.

Because of the recession, many retail staffs have been cut or had full time job cut to part time. Merchants may choose to increase hours for current part-timers or hire back former employees instead of hiring new.

So, to be among new hires considered for duty:

* Go to the store in person as soon as possible and offer to be an on-call fill-in for employees who are sick or on vacation.

* Befriend the store manager and let it be known you and your family like to shop there.

* Be location-flexible. Tell the hiring manager that you’d work at any of a chain’s units in the area on any given day.

* Come armed with computer skills. You need to be comfortable with technology to handle cash registers or office work.

* Dress up when you go in person to make a job inquiry. That means no sweats, no baggy jeans, no oversized T-shirts or athletic apparel, and no too-tight or revealing clothing. If you waddle or hold up your pants with one hand when you walk, employers won’t put you at the top of the hire list.

* Don’t ask for or expect a certain schedule. Agree to work whatever hours you get.

* Show enthusiasm and friendliness. Be ready to provide specific examples of your customer service experience.

* Be on time for interviews.

* Keep your cell phone turned off.

* Don’t bring along your kids, family or friends when you apply or go on an interview.

Diane Stafford's careers columns are published on Sundays in The Kansas City Star.