Think it’s too late to land a seasonal side job? Think again. Retail stores, entertainment venues, hotels, restaurants, and other employers need seasonal workers throughout the holiday season and into the new year, as people rush to do last-minute shopping, return items, and make use of their shiny new gift cards. Other, non-traditional seasonal side jobs also are available, so don’t fret if you don’t want to work retail. Overall, seasonal side jobs abound; you just need to know how to land one.
Don’t Limit Yourself. Not only do you not want to limit yourself to retail, but you also do not want to limit yourself to the holiday season. First things first, though.
With all of the retail ramping up that occurs during the holiday season, there are auxiliary employment opportunities available. For instance, UPS, FedEx, and the United States Postal Service need extra help during the holidays, and their hours may not be typical because they need people to work nearly round the clock in distribution centers and sorting centers and driving vehicles. These seasonal side jobs are perfect for people who do not want to work retail but who want to take advantage of increased retail sales (and returns) during the holidays.
Other jobs outside of retail also are available during the holiday season, such as work-from-home opportunities. Customer service centers need extra workers during the holidays to take orders, answer questions, or provide technical assistance. Companies such as 1-800-Flowers, Amazon.com, Apple, Intuit, and others hire more employees to work from home during the holiday season. Working from home during the holiday season gives you more flexibility with your hours than working traditional retail, so it may just be the seasonal side job you were looking for.
Remember, you don’t want to limit yourself to the holiday season for your seasonal job search, either. Seasonal employees are important for ski season and tax season also. You may be hired as a ski instructor, ski resort manager, coordinator of activities at a ski resort, or any number of other positions that become available during ski season. If you’d rather be indoors during the winter, landing a tax season side job may be something you consider. Some seasonal tax jobs require a background in accounting and finance, while others, such as those at Jackson Hewitt, require a high school diploma and strong communication and organizational skills.
Be Prepared for a Different Type of Interview. If you’re searching for a seasonal side job, you need to be ready to interview. Typically, hiring managers seek the same qualities for seasonal jobs as for long-term positions, including experience, professionalism, strong work ethic, motivation, and a positive attitude. However, there are some strategies for landing seasonal jobs that are worth keeping in mind as you approach your interviews:
- Be prepared to answer why you are interested in a temporary position. Be sure you focus on your desire for flexible hours, rather than a lack of interest in the work or a tendency to be unreliable.
- Make it as clear as possible that you are flexible and ready to work overtime, nights, weekends, and other undesirable hours and shifts. But be careful to avoid making promises during your interview that you are not ready or willing to keep once you actually have the position.
- Emphasize your quick learning ability. Seasonal side jobs require employees to train and be ready to work quickly. Be sure to include in your answers any past experiences or situations you’ve had or been in that will make you be a more valuable candidate.
- Act professionally, no matter the position. Don’t be afraid to look overqualified. Show up with a well-formatted resume. In fact, you may even want to rework it a bit so that it highlights your customer service experience. And treat your interview as you would a long-term position, using your experience and qualifications to your advantage.
- Practice rapid-fire interviews before your big day. Seasonal employees are hired routinely, and you need to be ready for a rapid-fire interview, as hiring managers have one interview after the next. Some seasonal job interviews may last only five or ten minutes, so be prepared to make a good impression and stress your most valuable qualities right off the bat.
Landing a seasonal side job is possible, as long as you keep your options open. When you do get an interview, be as prepared as possible and make sure you emphasize the qualities that will make you most valuable to the employer. Keep these tips in mind, and you’ll be well on your way to landing a fulfilling seasonal job opportunity.
Erica Francis enjoys being a part of ReadyJob.org because it gives her the opportunity to help adolescents and teens get started in the job market. When she isn’t writing and working with young people, she rides horses, crochets, and acts at her town’s community theater.
**PHOTO CREDIT: Image via Pixabay by tpsdave**
