Believe It or Not, It’s Time to Look for Holiday Jobs

September 18, 2018

The holiday season is an excellent time to look for a part-time or temporary job. But, if you start your search too late, you could miss your chance.

It might be a little early for stores to start rolling out the decorations and the Christmas tunes, but it’s not too soon to start to look for a holiday job.

The retail industry alone hires roughly an extra 570,000 people for the holiday season. You don’t want to miss out. Now is actually the perfect time to begin your search.

Here are a few tips to keep in mind:

1. Look for opportunities during the fall

A lot of the businesses that hire workers over the holiday season do their hiring during the fall. So, September isn’t too early to start looking.

Don’t procrastinate. Polish up your resume. Keep your eyes peeled for help wanted signs, do an online job search and ask friends or other contacts who might be able to help if they know of any opportunities.

The key thing here is not to delay. If you start looking in November, it could be too late.

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2. Know what’s available

There are a few different types of jobs that are available in abundance during the holiday season. Deciding what’s right for you is a good step for getting started with your job search.

You probably think of retail jobs first when you think of seasonal work. And, for good reason. The industry booms during the holiday season. Many stores hire additional workers to help out. (Last year, a man named Jeff was even put to work by his local target on Black Friday just because he showed up in a red sweater and khakis.)
Temp agencies like Kelly Services and Manpower often hire additional staff during the holiday season. Taking on temp work is an option to consider if you’re seeking seasonal employment opportunities.
Another segment of the holiday job market relates to package delivery services. Companies like FedEx and UPS need additional drivers and package handlers during the holidays to keep up with all the deliveries.
You might also consider taking on seasonal employment in the food service industry. Restaurants sometimes hire staff to keep up with all of the holiday parties. There might also be opportunities to work in food delivery, as people often order in more during the holidays.

3. Be prepared

There are a few things to keep in mind if you decide to stop by a place of employment to ask about seasonal work opportunities. You want to be prepared to jump in if given the chance.

Be sure to stop by when you have time to sit for an interview, just in case they have time to do that right away. Bring your resume with you, and be ready to provide contact information for references if asked.

Finally, know what you’re looking for. Be prepared to discuss the kind of work you want and your schedule and availability over the holiday season.

4. Send holiday cards

It’s generally a good idea to send a thank-you note after interviewing for a job. When you’re looking for seasonal work, it could be a nice touch to send a holiday card instead.

Keep it nondenominational, of course, and fun. Thank them for the interview and express that you hope to spend the holidays working with them. The small gesture of sending a card after an interview speaks volumes about your character and diligence. It could help to separate you from the pack.

5. Don’t treat it like it’s temporary

When it’s time to work your seasonal gig, you should be ready to give it your all. Just because this job is temporary doesn’t mean it doesn’t count. It could lead to something more permanent. Or, maybe you’ll make a new professional connection that will pay off at some point down the road.

Do your best at your seasonal job rather than behaving like it’s not going to last. You never know how one opportunity could lead to others, especially over the holidays.