Students double up as salesmen this festive season

College students made full use of the week-long break between Christmas and the New Year, each earning Rs 1,500-7,000 during the period by working in retail stores across the country.

"Festive season in the last quarter of every year sees a spurt in temporary recruitment, especially in the retail sector," executive search firm Manpower India said.

Working as temporary staff, they were able to earn Rs 1,500-7,000 each during Christmas and New Year celebrations, which also coincided with holidays in most colleges and schools.

The party for temporary hiring service providers begins much before the Christmas, as retailers start witnessing need for additional manpower around Diwali itself.

The vacations taken by regular staff for Christmas and New Year celebrations fuel the requirement for temporary staff. The companies start recruiting additional staff just before Diwali and retain them till mid-January.

"Sales are at their peak during Diwali to New Year period, witnessing a surge of at least 20 to 30 percent," temporary staffing firm Teamlease Services' CEO Manish Sabharwal told PTI.

The booming sales made it tough for retail store owners to handle the additional footfalls with their existing staff and most of them have scaled up their employees strength, Sabharwal said.

"While increased sales is key to additional staff needs, catering to maximum customers by providing high aesthetics as per the occasion is also a reason," Matrix HR Solutions CEO Narendra Kala said.

Maximum demand for the additional workforce is for shop-floor level during this peak season, and the qualifications required are as basic as effective communication skills, working computer knowledge and a pleasant personality.

"We have provided up to 30 percent of additional staff at the shop-floor level. People were hired before Diwali and are to work till mid-January, after which sales generally stabilise and companies shed this extra workforce," Sabharwal said.

TeamLease has got requisitions for temporary workers from clothing and apparel chains -- Fab India and Shopper's Stop this year, he added.

Manpower India, however, refused to divulge the names of companies for which they provided part-time staffers during the festive periods of Christmas and New Year.

"Graduates, having good communication and articulation skills, are required for these positions. The pay package usually starts from Rs 6,000 per month," Manpower India said.

The salary ranges from Rs 200-1,000 per day, depending upon the size, nature, timings and brand value of the retailers.

"The positions need candidates with good communication and interpersonal skills, retail being a part of the service industry. Also, the person should possess a presentable personality," Sabharwal said.

Manpower India and TeamLease Services are the leading companies providing temporary staff in India with other reputed names in this area being Adecco, Kelly Services and Ma Foi to name a few.