How to land a seasonal job
Christmas is coming and the wallet’s looking thin. Sophie Cole advises on how to pick up some earnings through seasonal employment
As the festive period rolls towards us, you may be finding it tricky to balance your budget.
| Even if you have little experience, employers may well take a chance on you for a seasonal role. |
With the prospect of gift shopping, Christmas markets and seasonal reunions with loved ones looming, you may wonder how your overdraft can cope.
One way to make sure you’ve got a bit of extra cash is to take on a seasonal role. Such jobs are ideal for students who don’t want the commitment of a year-round part-time role, or even full-time workers looking to boost their spending power in the run-up to the big day.
If you’re not sure what you need to do to secure a seasonal job, here are our foolproof tips to finding work – fast.
1. Polish your CV
Even if you have little experience, employers may well take a chance on you for a seasonal role. But competition from other jobseekers is often fierce, so a polished CV can give you the edge.
Your CV is a great tool to set you apart from other applicants, even if you’ve never been employed before. Tailor the content to the kinds of roles you’re applying for.
For example, if you’re scouting for a temporary retail role, highlight times when you stayed calm under pressure or went out of your way to help someone. Even if your only experiences are from school, college or uni, they’re still useful for boosting your CV.
2. Know where to look
While some industries (including retail and hospitality) are extremely busy just before Christmas, others, like landscaping and tourism, won’t be.
Make sure you’re searching in the right area, or you’ll quickly become disillusioned by the lack of opportunities.
| Make sure you’re searching in the right area or you’ll quickly become disillusioned... |
3. Go large on events
No one wants to tie up every free moment in the lead-up to Christmas. You’ve got to have some social life, after all.
To find a job that doesn’t involve the same Saturday shift each week, sign yourself up with a hospitality company or recruitment agency that provides seasonal events staff. That’ll give you a bit of flexibility, meaning your mission to earn a few quid won’t impair your enjoyment of the festivities.
If you’ve previously spent time working in a restaurant or bar, you’ll be a very appealing prospect to an event or hospitality company. And even if you haven’t got relevant experience, the right attitude can go a long way.
4. Don’t forget other temping opportunities
Not keen on battling the crowds in a shop or restaurant to earn your Christmas cash? Temporary jobs can be found in all industries at this time of year, so don’t rule out a non-seasonal role.
Companies in all industries recruit year-round for temporary roles, with many needing extra pairs of hands during the Christmas/New Year period as new projects kick-off and permanent staff take holiday. There are always opportunities for hard-working individuals in a variety of sectors.
5. Start looking early
It may feel as if Christmas is a long way off, but you need to begin your search for seasonal work sooner rather than later.
Many companies, particularly retail stores and seasonal attractions that know they’re going to experience a huge rush come November, begin advertising seasonal roles as early as September. So you need to get your skates on if you’re to land the right opportunity.
Applying early will also put you at the front of the queue when it comes to particularly fun seasonal roles, like being an elf at Santa’s grotto. And who wouldn’t fancy getting paid to do that for a few weeks in December?
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Published: 20 October 2025
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