The holiday season is just around the corner. For many Americans, this is not only a great time to indulge in celebration, but also a great opportunity to make some extra money or to pursue other talents and hobbies.
In 2016, there were 5.6 million job openings in the United States. With unemployment at a record low of 4.1%, retailers are finding it harder to fill positions.
However, the good news is that this translates to higher paying wages and sometimes even incentives, such as employee discounts and sign-on bonuses, for those who want to work over the holiday season.
33% of companies employ workers during the holiday season. And 47% of those employees anticipate employing full-time workers off the back of their holiday positions – which is great news if you’re ultimately looking for a permanent role.
Most people job hunt in January as part of their New Year resolutions. Getting to those companies before the major influx of applications in January will, therefore, put you at an advantage.
See our top eight tips on how to find that perfect holiday job.
1. Know What Fuels Your Desire to Work
Is your focus money or passion?
The holidays are a great time of the year for college students or stay-at-home parents to increase their earnings. It’s also a great chance to explore something you’re passionate about or to develop some new skills, without making the full commitment of a career change.
Why not give it a try in the holiday season when there is a big market for it.
2. Get that Resume Out Early
Hiring starts early. Amazon has already announced its need to fill 120,000 positions in America with a need to fill the spots by mid-November.
As a result, it’s best to register with job boards and get your resume out there are soon as possible to be in with a chance of landing a holiday job.
3. Tailor Your Resume to the Holiday Season
It’s always great to be able to reference your stellar and consistent work experience when writing your holiday resume.
However, if the role you’re applying for involves decorating gingerbread houses all day, perhaps focus on the more relevant requirements for the position you wish to fill.
For example, you may wish to talk about the cookie decorating workshop you took with friends or the fact that you have 10,000 Instagram followers for all your decorating techniques.
4. Know What Kind of Jobs Are Needed
Get ready to hit the send button with thousands of holiday jobs available right at your fingertips. Truck drivers, delivery personnel, and customer service positions are highly recruited for in the holiday season. Once you know what positions are commonly filled you should pursue the desired company.
5. Display Your Entrepreneurial Talent
If you’re known for your custom made gift boxes or organic soap making abilities, perhaps it’s time to capitalize on your talents.
Rent a booth at your local Christmas market, and show of your products. All entrepreneurs have to start somewhere. It’s a fantastic way to build your people skills and confidence without having to quit your day job.
6. Be Flexible
Retailers need to fill the hard and commonly unwanted shifts. Therefore, selling yourself as being flexible is crucial to securing a holiday position.
As a bonus, evening and holiday shifts commonly pay better than a day shift and the opportunity to work overtime is always an option.
Remember, it’s not a forever job, but it does aid you with desirable skills and qualities sought by every employer, such as your willingness to work hard and your strong team-player attitude.
7. Maintain a Good Relationship
Many companies rehire the same candidates for recurring holiday seasons. If you treat your job like a permanent position you can fall back into the same position every year. This eliminates the need to job hunt and interview every Christmas break.
If you want to possibly work full-time again in the future, it also looks great on your resume to be re-employed over several years with the same company.
8. Attend Charity Events
If you have long-term plans to join a certain company, you can use the holiday season to your benefit.
Look at holiday events as more than just cocktails and canapes. Consider it a networking opportunity for a future position. Know which organizations your desired company supports.
If you can’t afford to attend one of their sponsored events, contact the organizers and offer your volunteer services. Volunteering is a great way to associate with a brand or company. You never know who you could meet.
