7 Places To Get A Job For The Holidays

With the stresses of the semester, finding a seasonal job for the holiday season may seem impossible. However, many jobs are starting the hiring process for seasonal positions soon, so starting your job search process now can benefit you. It may be difficult to know where to begin, but there are places to look that may lead to a seasonal job.

Previous employer

If you worked a summer job at a retail position or another job, see if they would be willing to hire you back for the holiday season. Employers have to go through a lot during the hiring process, but if you worked at the position before, you will likely still have your records on file, especially if you did not officially quit and just went on education leave. Call your previous employer’s HR department to find out what the process would be to come back for the holiday season.

USPS

The US Postal Service is crucial around the holidays as they are tasked with making sure packages and mail get to their recipients. These parcels increase around the holidays, so USPS hires thousands of seasonal employees across different departments to fill these jobs. The increased need means you have a greater chance of being hired, and this job can give you the satisfaction of knowing that you are helping people receive gifts and cards that will make their holidays a bit brighter.

Retail stores

Around the holidays, many retail stores hire seasonal employees to help them manage the increase in customers. If being a cashier is not your thing, you can stock shelves, work in the deli of a grocery store, or even be a maintenance worker. Consider applying to a store you love shopping at or one that is a staple for your holiday shopping as many retail stores offer some sort of discount to employees, whether it is a percentage off the order or a membership to the wholesale club. Grocery stores are looking for seasonal hires as well as more people are cooking in bulk for holiday gatherings.

Image: Heidi Fin via https://unsplash.com/photos/2TLREZi7BUg

Food industry

When people are preparing for the holidays by baking and cooking for the holiday in advance, they may not want to cook on a night that is high in preparations so they decide to eat out. Most foodservice places offer their employees at least one free meal during their shift, so that alone is a great motivation to work in the industry. Whether you work in a fast-food place or a sit-down restaurant, food-industry jobs allow you to interact with the public and help people unwind during a stressful time of year.

Christmas Tree Cutter

While many people have switched to artificial trees, others stick to the traditional real trees. There are designated places where people can go, select the tree, and have it cut down. You could work at one of these places, especially if you love being in the outdoors and helping people keep family traditions alive. This part of the holiday season is often a cherished memory for many people, so being a part of this can be rewarding.

Photography

If you are good at taking photos, consider trying to find a job with or as a photographer. People usually want pictures to include with their holiday cards, so photographers are always looking for help. Even if you are not working as a photographer exactly, this kind of job is perfect if you are wanting to go into photography. You will get to see the ins and outs of the photography business, and you get to learn how to do things beyond just working the camera and photo editing. All aspects of photography are important, so no matter what tasks you are assigned, you are still in a position to learn a lot. If you are hired to photograph events, you will get a chance to have some fun in the process.

Santa’s Helper

One of the biggest highlights for children around the holidays is being able to go to a mall or event to meet Santa. Santa’s Helpers are responsible for guiding kids to meet Santa and keeping those in line entertained as they wait for their turn. This position is perfect for those who are outgoing and are willing to help kids. It is also a great opportunity to brighten the holiday season. Meeting Santa and being able to share their wishes for gifts is often so memorable for kids and it adds to the magic of the season, so being able to help ensure the experience goes smoothly is such an important yet underappreciated job. It will also help you get into a festive mood as you will be in contact with those who are excited about the upcoming holidays.

There are many job opportunities that get overlooked for the holiday season, but they are jobs you can easily fit into your schedule, especially as your semester ends and your winter break begins. Take the opportunity to earn some extra money while helping others get into the holiday spirit.