Christmas is approaching, and with it comes a whole range of seasonal job opportunities.
For many employers, the festive period is one of the busiest times of the year, which means they need extra people to help meet demand. Seasonal vacancies often start appearing from October and November, with some roles continuing into January, February or even longer.
Whether you’re looking to earn some extra money, build your CV or get your first experience of work, a seasonal job can be a great place to start.
A seasonal job is a temporary role created to support a business during a particularly busy period.
Around Christmas, you’ll commonly find opportunities in areas such as:
You don’t always need lots of previous experience either. Many seasonal employers are looking for people who are reliable, willing to learn and confident working as part of a team.
Seasonal jobs can be particularly useful if you are:
Even if the job isn’t directly connected to your future career, you can develop skills that employers value.
You might build experience in customer service, teamwork, communication, organisation, problem-solving and working under pressure.
These are transferable skills, which means you can take them with you into lots of different jobs and industries.
If you haven’t had much work experience before, a seasonal role can give you something valuable to add to your CV and talk about in future applications and interviews.
It can also help show future employers that you are dependable and willing to work.
The festive period can be expensive, so having an additional income can be helpful - particularly if you’re saving for something, studying or simply want a little more independence.
A temporary job doesn’t always have to stay temporary.
Some employers keep seasonal workers on after the busy period if permanent vacancies become available. Even if they don’t, making a good impression could help you if you apply to the same employer again in the future.
There’s no guarantee that a seasonal role will become permanent, but it can be a useful way to introduce yourself to an organisation.
Seasonal work won’t suit everyone, so think about what you need from a job before accepting one.
Christmas can be one of the busiest times of year for employers, so you may be expected to work evenings, weekends or around bank holidays.
Check the expected hours and make sure they fit around college, university, family plans or any other commitments.
Think about transport before accepting a role, particularly if you’ll be working early mornings, evenings or on days when public transport may be limited.
Seasonal contracts vary. Some might only last a few weeks, while others continue for several months.
Check the expected start and finish dates so you know what you’re signing up for.
Try not to apply for something just because it is available.
Think about the environment you’d be comfortable working in. Would you enjoy talking to customers? Do you prefer practical work? Would you be happy in a fast-paced shop, busy restaurant or warehouse?
Choosing something that suits your strengths can make your first experience of work much more enjoyable.
There are lots of ways to search.
Try:
It can also be worth looking while you’re out and about. Shops, cafés and restaurants sometimes advertise seasonal vacancies in their windows.
Tip: Don’t wait until December to start looking. Many employers recruit their Christmas teams several weeks or even months beforehand.
You might be competing against lots of other applicants, so a little preparation can help you stand out.
Make sure your contact details, education, experience and skills are up to date.
Haven’t had a job before? That’s okay.
You can include experience from school, college, volunteering, clubs, sports, hobbies or projects. Think about situations where you have demonstrated skills such as teamwork, communication, responsibility or organisation.
For seasonal employers, reliability can be especially important.
Be clear about when you’re available and avoid saying you can work certain dates or times if you know you can’t.
You don’t need to completely rewrite your CV for every seasonal job, but small changes can make a difference.
For example, if you’re applying for a customer-facing retail position, highlight any experience that shows you are friendly, confident communicating with people and able to work well in a team.
You might be asked questions such as:
“Why do you want to work here?”
“Tell me about a time you worked as part of a team.”
“How would you deal with a difficult customer?”
“What days and times are you available?”
Think about your answers beforehand and use examples from school, college, volunteering, previous jobs or your personal life where appropriate.
Getting the role is only the beginning. Make the most of the opportunity by:
And if you’ve enjoyed working there, let them know that you’d be interested in any permanent opportunities that become available.
A seasonal job might only last a few weeks, but the experience, skills, confidence and contacts you gain from it could be useful for much longer.
It could be your first step into work, an opportunity to explore a new industry or even lead to something permanent.
So, if you’ve been thinking about finding work over the festive period, now could be a great time to start looking.
