Top 12 mistakes seasonal workers make when looking for work.

Hi everyone,

We see a lot of people really struggling to find seasonal jobs, especially social media. It’s not because the jobs aren’t out there, it’s because the applicants are making these common mistakes.

1. No visa no job. So many employers (especially ones with automated application platforms) instantly reject applicants who don’t have a visa. Solution: Get a visa first.
2. Hi people with UK passports only. Read mistake 1 again. Sorry but your country voted for Brexit and it’s now so much easier for EU employers to hire EU people than UK people. We see Brits applying to hundreds of EU jobs for months on end. Read the room people. Solution: Look elsewhere, there’s still plenty of places that are happy give UK passport holders working holiday visas. 
3. A picture tells a thousand words. Bad photos are a real turn off. Put up something respectful and conservative.You’re after a job not a date, and those party photos aren’t good. Solution: Solution: Be your hardest critic, and use a photo a future boss would like. Use a photo related to the job being offered. not the one that you like. 
4. Not enough information. Employers need to know the following: Your name, where you are from, what visa you hold, what jobs you want, where you want to work, what experience you have, when you are available, if you are travelling with a partner, and your age. This is the bare minimum. Solution: Give employers the basic information they need. 
5. Too much information: Hiring managers are seriously busy people. They don’t need to know how much you love the outdoors / skiing / surfing / biking etc. They don’t need to know which subjects you studied in high school or your passion for XYZ. Solution: be brutal with the delete button.
6. Poor formatting: Long paragraphs with colourful prose are definitely not needed, especially since your hiring manager’s primary language might not be the one you are using. The Solution: Dot pointing your essential information, and having the most essential details at the top is the best option. 
7. No housing no job. If you are looking for a job in a resort with massive housing problems, employers will automatically reject anyone who does not have secure housing for the whole season. This especially the case the closer it is to peak tourism season. The Solution: do your research. There’s a crazy number of people showing up to popular ski and beach resorts just before the season starts thinking they will find affordable housing. Either pick a resort with better housing, or show up early enough to find some in your preferred resort. 
8. Wanting it all: I get that seasonal workers want that fancy job creating beautiful cocktails in the coolest bar in town. Sorry guys, those jobs rarely go to rookies. You need an amazing resume, mad skills and/or local connections before picking off those roles. Solution: Earn your stripes and go for these jobs the next season. 
9. Non-negotiables: If an ad says you need XYZ for this role, don’t apply unless you have XYZ. You can’t fake it until you make it. Solution: Only apply for jobs if you have the skills, qualifications, and visas the employer demands. 
10. Mid Season leaves: Employers automatically reject applicants who can’t stay for the entire season. Solution: commit to the entire season or look for other roles. 
11. Application bombing: We are seeing people sending out 50-100 applications and getting no responses. They’ve been getting rejected because they have made one or more of the common mistakes above. Also “copy and paste” generic applications look lazy to employers: The solution: Before applying ask the following three questions “What does this employer need?”, “Do I have the essential skills, qualifications, and visas for this job?” and “does my application genuinely show employers that I am a great candidate for this job?”
12. Wrong platforms: Social media is a very poor place to find employment.  The solution: Get off social media and start applying for jobs through channels employers like. 

Good luck everyone.

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