What does a Seasonal Associate do?
A Seasonal Associate helps organizations, usually retail, handle the rush of customers that can be expected during holiday seasons. These associates step in during busy sales periods and help pick up slack where the normal sales team might become overwhelmed. They ensure customer loyalty and drive sales by making sure customers have easy access to their desired merchandise during popular shopping periods, such as Black Friday. A seasonal retail associate will have different duties, depending on the company they work for and what areas they need extra help with during busy seasons.
Seasonal Associate skills and qualifications
To excel in their position, a Seasonal Associate needs to possess certain skills and qualifications. These may include the following:
- A Seasonal Associate must have a driven, personable attitude and willingness to undergo their primary duties while providing excellent customer service on the sales floor
- The ability to follow detailed directions
- Industry knowledge regarding the products being sold
- Ability to stand for hours, bend and lift objects over 50 pounds
- Math and computer skills to facilitate the use of company technology to ring up purchases and report inventory levels
Seasonal Associate experience requirements
The requirements for a Seasonal Associate are minimal, as companies typically provide their own sales and policy training for this position. However, it may be preferable for them to have several months of retail experience prior to applying.
Seasonal Associate education and training requirements
Typically, a Seasonal Associate needs only a high school diploma or GED to qualify for the position. Seasonal sales associate careers can be pivoted to management in a company if they pursue business or financial education. Seasonal industries outside of retail that require certification include tax preparation and agricultural operations.
Seasonal Associate salary expectations
According to Indeed Salaries, the average salary for a Seasonal Associate is $13.55 hourly. The wage can vary depending on location, industry, company and experience.
Job description samples for similar positions
If a Seasonal Associate isn’t quite who you need to hire, you may want to look into these similar positions:
Seasonal Associate job description FAQs
How long can a person be a Seasonal Associate?
Depending on the industry, seasonal assignments can last anywhere from a weekend to several months. An employee at a ski resort, for example, may work for the entire ski season. A retail employer may only need a Seasonal Associate for Black Friday week or the few weeks surrounding back-to-school shopping.
Do Seasonal Associates qualify for unemployment?
Generally, yes, although there are exceptions to this. Unemployment benefits do not typically rely on a full-time, part-time or seasonal worker classification. If a seasonal worker has worked enough hours to qualify under that area’s unemployment guidelines, then they may qualify when an assignment ends, although they could be denied benefits if they quit before the season ended.
Can I hire my Seasonal Associate full-time?
It’s common for employers to discover talented workers that thrive in the company during a seasonal period. If the employer so chooses, they can decide to offer that Seasonal Associate a permanent position once the assignment has ended.
Can I hire non-US citizens for a Seasonal Associate position?
It is possible to hire non-citizens as seasonal workers. In order to qualify as a non-citizen employee, the associate will need to hold an H2-B Temporary Worker Visa, unless they are working in the agricultural field, in which case they’ll need to hold an H2-A visa.
*Indeed provides this information as a courtesy to users of this site. Please note that we are not your recruiting or legal advisor, we are not responsible for the content of your job descriptions, and none of the information provided herein guarantees performance.