The festive period brings not only the promise of gifts, good food, and decorations a plenty, but also a quantity of temporary job opportunities. Be it making some extra cash or gaining some new experience, the Christmas period is a great opportunity to jump into some short-term roles.
Why So Many Temporary Jobs Become Available
Shopping season: Shops often need additional staff to manage the Christmas shopping rush, making it easier to find a job than at quieter times of the year.
Festive Events: With Christmas parties, seasonal events, markets, and festivals there’s an increased demand for event staff all around, from coordinators to caterers.
Holiday Replacements: A lot of staff will take annual leave during the Christmas period creating the need for temporary staff to fill in.
How To Find Temporary Work Over The Festive Period
1) Start Early
If you’re looking for Christmas work, you need to start looking in late October or early November. Companies will know their holiday staffing needs by then and start to put out the call.
Having a temporary job can be used on your CV for practical experience which is now more appealing to employers than any other qualification type.
2) Tailor Your CV and Cover Letter
Chances are a lot of people are applying to these temporary jobs to earn that bit of extra cash. Make your CV stand out by tailoring it to the jobs you’re applying for and emphasis transferable skills from previous rolls or life moments. Prioritise skills and experiences that are relevant to the roll you’re applying for.
3) Network
Let the people around you know you’re looking for work. If someone you know can recommend you for a job personally, this can be especially helpful as employers are more willing to hire someone they already know than a stranger they have only spoken to during job interviews.
4) Accept The Need To Be Flexible
A drawback of temporary work can be working unconventional hours, however being open and willing to work these hours can lead to many more job opportunities.
5) Do Your Research
Research businesses that typically hire seasonal workers such as retail stores, event companies, and hospitality businesses. You can also look up local businesses on LinkedIn to find places that need workers close to home.
6) Consider Roles Beyond Retail
Retail is probably the main sector hiring at Christmas time but there are plenty of other temporary jobs out there aside from retail. Consider working for an event staffing company, a delivery service, or customer support.
7) Prepare For The Following Year
If you find a temporary job one year that you love, try and build relationships there and perform well. This could then lead to a recurring seasonal position or even a permanent job offer.
8) Apply For Multiple Jobs
The job market is incredibly competitive, so your best bet is to get your CV to as many employers as possible.
Overall, when it comes to finding temporary seasonal work there are many ways in which you can help yourself and improve your odds of finding work. The best course of action, as with most things, is to start early. Consider the skills and experience you already have and apply them to your job hunt. Be flexible and also persistent, make yourself available to employers and let them know how you can benefit them.
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