OK, so you haven’t found a job in your field or even come close. The only jobs you find are hourly service-type jobs, and you haven’t done that since waiting tables in high school. Well, you may be luckier than you think. Some companies offer great perks to their employees, and you don’t have to be a manager or CEO. When you’re hired, you’re part of the team. Some restrictions apply, like working full-time or a certain number of hours per week. But the perks can make up for the lower wages and give you a foot in the door.
1. Retail. Think large department stores, like Dillard’s, Nordstrom’s or Macy’s. They offer discounts to their employees and even sweeten the deal over the holidays with special promotions. After a 40% regular discount, employees can apply their additional discount for some real savings. If you work for one of the cosmetic lines within the department store, you may also get free products and commissions on sales. The products alone can add hundreds of dollars to your pay each month.
2. Airlines. It’s not just the flight attendants and pilots who get to fly for free. Baggage handlers, counter clerks and reservationists share in the “friendly skies” benefits. You have to fly standby and take your chances, but some airlines allow your family members to fly free as well. Take a couple of trips a year, and you can add thousands of travel dollar savings to your paycheck.
3. Restaurants. Besides discounts on meals when you visit as a guest, many restaurants provide meals for their staff or send the extras home for the families. In order to better sell the menu items, restaurants hold tastings for staff, and encourage them to try new dishes. The cost of meals adds up, and you can add the savings to your pocket.
4. Theatres. You may be an usher or sell tickets or popcorn, but you also get free movie tickets or can hang out in the projection room and watch the latest flicks. If you work for a convention center or other venue that stages live concerts with name entertainers, you can see the show for free and even have access backstage to meet the stars. Production crews work hard moving sets and equipment, but you can be “up close and personal” while you set up and break down after a performance.
5. Cruise Lines. Cruise lines employ hundreds of service workers for a variety of jobs to take special care of their captive guests while traveling to exotic locations. Employees work long hours and share cramped quarters, but their living expenses during the cruise are taken care of as well. While in port, you can see take some time to see the world as well. You won’t be climbing the rock walls or winning big in the casinos, but you can travel to destinations around the world for free.
What other jobs give employees great perks? Share your experiences with others in the Comments section.
Mary Nestor-Harper, SPHR, is a consultant, blogger, motivational speaker and freelance writer for phillyjobs.com. Based in Savannah, GA, her work has appeared in Training magazine, Training & Development magazine, Supervision, BiS Magazine and The Savannah Morning News. When she’s not writing, she enjoys singing with the Savannah Philharmonic Chorus and helping clients reinvent their careers for today’s job market. You can read more of her blogs at phillyjobs.com and view additional job postings on Beyond.com.
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