FORT WORTH, Texas — Andy Harvey might consider standup comedy. The 66-year-old job-seeker and career human-resources manager snagged a permanent part-time job at a Fort Worth department store a few weeks ago, after he walked in to interview for seasonal work.

"How do you feel about working in women's shoes?" a manager asked during the interview.

"Well, I've never worn them before, but I'd be willing to try," quipped Harvey, who was an HR director at John Peter Smith Hospital, Baylor Health Care System and Texas Health Resources.

Ba da bing, ba da boom.

And a job.

Harvey joined a growing number of out-of-work or underemployed professionals who are taking seasonal jobs this year to bring in income, keep their skills sharp and broaden their networking. In Harvey's case, he got a promotion even before he got hired.

"You're getting a chance to meet people, and you're getting a chance to help other people," said Harvey, who is scheduled to work more than 20 hours a week at the store and says he's worked as many as 37, including Black Friday. "It's an extension of networking."

Besides offering hope to job-seekers, part-time seasonal work also can be a potential boon for employers.

Matt Kirkham, who owns The Import Store in Fort Worth, recently hired a part-time employee with marketing expertise to help sell a new proprietary scent diffuser the company recently introduced.

The woman, a longtime friend, is working two to three hours a day on the sales floor, showing the diffuser to customers. But Kirkham envisions her "growing with the company" as demand for the product grows and The Import Store seeks more distribution channels for it.

Harvey's road to seasonal work began after he left his most recent HR job in 2006 and went into financial planning. He'd developed an interest in the field as he designed benefits plans and helped physicians with their questions.

A stint in financial planning ended last year, and Harvey decided to return to HR after considering retirement. Financial planning would have taken too long to build a livelihood, said Harvey, who recently began drawing Social Security.

"Until you build a client base, you starve to death," he said.

Harvey, whose expertise is in benefits and training, readily acknowledges his age is an issue in his job search. But he believes he could do anything from heading up an HR department at a large company to becoming an HR generalist.

To help keep himself sharp, he volunteers at the Fort Worth Career Search Network and leads a task force for the group that helps prepare job-seekers for interviews.