Careers

Why look for just another job, when you can embark upon a whole new career? Learn about the latest developments in careers for military spouses. With your mobile lifestyle, there are certain portable careers that can offer you and your family stability and future growth. If you have any topics that you would like to see us write about, feel free to email the editor: info@salutetospouses.com
Need Job, Will Haunt

Holiday jobs aren’t just a Christmas-time tradition anymore. The Halloween season's part-time work, in costume shops and haunted houses, has become a great way to scare up some extra cash. And according to Ron Deleon, operation's manager at nationwide costume retailer Spirit Halloween, the workload can amount to much more than part-time.

“We don’t guarantee hours, but as the month of October goes on, the hours can often increase heavily,” Deleon said. “At times, it can get really overwhelming in here. ”

The opening of a physical storefront for a five-week period during peak haunting season provides an opportunity for employees to learn the ropes of this festive annual retail holiday at several national chains. But the 9 to 5 at a Halloween shop doesn’t just consist of unpacking boxes and stocking shelves. The day can become a bit … theatrical.

“When I’m hiring, I look for someone bubbly and energetic who loves Halloween,” Deleon said. “This year’s theme is scary clowns. Employees will dress up and wear make-up, but we also make sure everyone who comes in has a good experience. I participate a lot too. With children who may be scared, we may take off our make-up and masks and walk around with them to ensure they aren’t scared anymore. If we have to turn off some of the scary machines while the kids shop, we do. Part of what our employees do is to show support and ensure the kids enjoy the Halloween experience too.”

“We are very customer service oriented,” Deleon said. “It’s a simple job, but it’s tending to our customer’s needs, showing them where things are and providing information. We try to make this a happy place and make sure the customer leaves happy. ”

Prepping your Halloween work resume? Being fun and loving the spooky holiday is good but previous work experience will make you stand out, just like at any other employer.

“Having worked here in the past is certainly considered during hiring, but we always try to keep the field open for everyone to apply,” Deleon said. “I do base my hiring on experience and knowledge of retail, as well as attitude.”

But, don’t let the possibility of dressing like a scary clown frighten you from fattening your wallet this fall.

“We have had some timid employees at first, and this was their first job and they turned out to do great,” Deleon said. “We are family oriented with our employees. We are a team.”

If you really want to get into your spooky role, haunted houses also hire throughout the fall. Many haunted help wanted ads are in search of actors, carpenters, make-up artists and costume creators.

A simple Google search for the phrase, "haunted house jobs" turns up 50 million results.

Not every Halloween-time job has to end when the great pumpkin rises out of the patch at midnight. There may be more opportunities with the retailer's parent companies. Spirit Halloween is a part of Spencer’s Gifts, LLC, so it’s a great place for military spouses to get a foot in the retail door. According to Deleon, once you’ve worked for Spirit, your name remains in the Spencer’s database.

“Once the season ends here, there are more possibilities to go further into the company,” Deleon said.  “In years past, we’ve had military wives work here and we support and encourage them. We’ve also had employees from this store who go on and work with Spencer’s. Once they leave here, it doesn’t mean the road ends.”

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