How to find a seasonal (Christmas / Holiday) Job

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By sparro
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Santa Claus

While there has never been a good time to be unemployed, this has been a particularly bad year to be unemployed. The economy was terrible, companies were laying off thousands, while at the same time, personal and family expenses seemed to only be increasing. And now with the holidays coming, it seems as if the pressure is on even more.

But all is not lost. In fact, the holidays can be one of the best times to get a job...if only for a short time. Companies of all shapes and sizes are hiring right now to bring in the extra help they need this season. Admittedly, the kinds of positions that open up during the holiday's may not be the life-long / career-building opportunities you hope for, but they can be a great way to put some extra money in your pocket. Or alternatively, get a great discount on your gifts, fill in the time, or many other things.

To take advantage of this time period however, you need to act fast, creatively, and deliberately. Hopefully, the guidelines below will help you do that and have a much merrier Christmas and holiday season.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Internet access
Resume or skills list
Flexibility

Step 1

Resume

The first step to finding your job is to do an assessment of your skills and interests. Seasonal jobs come in all shapes and sizes, and not everyone will match your background, knowledge, or experience. Before you begin, sit down and write down the kind of skills you have developed over your professional and personal life. If you have a resume, that is a good place to start...but remember, most companies will ask you to fill out a separate application and not just submit a resume. Think you don't have much experience? Well, you are wrong. EVERYONE has some skills and experience.

For instance, If you are a Mother who has spent the last ten years staying at home with the family...think about your logistical and organizational skills. If you are a student...Don't forget other summer jobs, internships, positions in college organizations. If you are a professional who is on the job-hunt...remember why your last company hired you, what you did there, and how you helped achieve organizational objectives.
Step 2

Company Logos

Develop a list of the top 10 - 15 companies you are interested in applying to. At this time of year, there are literally thousands of companies and tens of thousands of jobs out there. Like with anything, if you are too scattered in your approach, you are less likely to hit what you want. And given how fast the window closes on seasonal jobs, now is the time to be deadly focused.

Think about the location of interesting companies (close by or will you have to drive), the type of work they do (e.g. retail, manufacturing, sales), and also, the positions / environment they offer. These are all key considerations for any seasonal job. And don't discount the fact that for some companies, you might have a chance to work with them after the holidays. That is important too!
Step 3

Do a little research using the Internet: While most seasonal jobs are assumed to be retail, that is not the case at all. This is the time of year when numerous other positions are needed in customer care, inventory management, security, receiving, package delivery...you name it! Using the list you developed above, check out the websites of the companies on your list to understand what options may exist. Most companies post exhaustive information on their websites about seasonal jobs (if it is not obvious, check under "careers" or "contact us").

For smaller company opportunities or more general searches, consider using CareerBuilder.com, Monster.com, or Craigslist (especially for local jobs with smaller business). These sites usually have great listings of local jobs and small businesses needing employees for the holidays (for instance UPS is a huge one).
Step 4

Apply, apply, apply...and NOW! While most seasonal work does not start in earnest until after Thanksgiving, many companies like to hire in early November for all of their seasonal jobs. There are lots of reasons for this, but many are related to training, scheduling, and preparation.

As for how to apply...the best way to do this is in-person with the hiring or store manager. To do this, bring a copy of your skills list / resume to the store or location in question and apply. Be sure to dress appropriately (e.g. for retail, one step "better" than how other employees are dressed) and at all times act professionally. Remember, there are thousands of people looking for jobs, you want your potential employer to see you as one of the best.

And do this soon! For obvious reasons, the window is short and you don't want to miss out on any opportunity. That means if you are reading this eHow and still haven't applied for a season job...read the rest of this quickly and get started ASAP!
Step 5

But one last piece of advice...be Flexible. One of the things that distinguishes seasonal jobs (especially retail) is that help is needed at all hours and days...not to mention, nights and weekends. With only ~six weeks of the holiday season a lot needs to happen in a very short time. Also, companies after different needs throughout the day and week. Sure, you could end up with a 9 to 5, weekdays only position...but don't count on it.