Costco, Best Buy Amongst Best Holiday Jobs in Santa Barbara

During the holiday season, numerous large stores will have expanded hours and need more help due to the rush of Santa Barbara residents picking up gifts. Students who are looking to spend their holiday time making some money will be happy to know that there are many places to turn that are close by to the campus eager to hire. The three week winter break between quarters is a great time for students to catch up on sleep, and refill the bank account before two more whirlwind quarters. Although Santa Barbara is not a factory town where gifts are shipped out, there are certainly a whole lot of presents being shipped in to people around the Central Coast. Although college kids often want to go home for the few weeks, there is plenty of money to be made at big-box stores or mom-and-pop shops this holiday season.

Here are three fantastic places to look for part-time, seasonal winter work:

1. Costco – The home of the starving student, Costco always picks up a few dozen more students during November and December in order to handle the huge influx of orders. Instead of going by Costco to pick up a hot dog or a pizza, go by and pick up a job application for the winter season. Costco hires droves of students to help process orders and get gifts ready for Goleta residents. Many UCSB students have had success working for Costco, as the hourly wage is around $10 an hour to start and there is a nice support system. Expect to work long shifts with some back breaking work, since shipments will be heavy and must be sorted. Costco (like our next store) rewards workers with good discounts, even if they are seasonal, so it is something to look into if you are inquiring on a new television or a year’s supply of toliet paper.

2. Best Buy – Black Friday is the beginning of the Tech industry’s holiday season, and chaos will break out before the turkey has been finished. Best Buy is the local hub for UCSB students and Santa Barbara residents to find the deals on televisions, computers and everything else that requires a lithium battery; so it makes sense that Best Buy gives back and hires students during the holiday push. Best Buy will start being the place to be next week with lines out of door waiting for the latest tablets.

Just like how you should not forget about dessert, Best Buy also has seasonal positions for students on campuses such as UCSB sometimes. Best Buy and Geek Squad works with schools to provide technical support for computer repair or cell phone diagnoses. If you are good with technology, this might be the gig for you. Best Buy starts at a decent salary, and hire good people from all walks of life. The shifts are long and they will have you work a lot over the month of December, but you are inside and in the warm store. Best Buy contracts out a lot of their services, which makes most of their employees vital for customer service. My roommate is a big fan of working the call center, which allows for some free time in a low-maintenance setting.

3. Santa Barbara Christmas Tree Worker - Anthony’s Christmas Trees and Wreaths – At the Earl Warren Showgrounds, Anthony’s Christmas Trees & Wreaths is a full service Christmas lot.  They sell various sizes and varieties of Christmas trees, beautifully decorated wreaths, garland, boughs, water stands, wood stands with water basins, tree preservatives and much more.  They also offer flame retardant trees and flocked trees.  In terms of positions for students, they also have a delivery and pick-up service which give students with cars an opportunity to work.