Holiday Hiring Help: Tips for Snagging an Amazing Seasonal Job

Seasonal employment — especially around the holidays — has a ton of advantages. For one, it puts extra cash in your pocket when you need it the most. It also helps you build a resume and sets you up better for longer-term jobs. Even though hiring seasonal work is highly beneficial to employers, competition can make landing a job for the holiday season quite difficult. With that in mind, here are some ways to boost your chances. 

Holiday Hiring Help: Tips for Snagging an Amazing Seasonal Job

​Cast A Wide Net (But Do It Smartly)

The more hooks you put out there, the better odds you have of hooking something — that’s just basic logic. Don’t be hyper-specific in your application process. Sure, don’t take a job you’re going to absolutely hate, but don’t be so choosy you eliminate solid options.
 
That wide net you cast has to be targeted in an intelligent manner, however. As ZipRecruiter points out, the holidays put stress on certain industries, including big-box retailers (like Amazon, Staples, and Best Buy), hospitality companies (hotels and restaurants), and shipping companies (UPS and FedEx). Those aren’t bad places to begin your search. 
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Make It Easy To Hire You

When companies increase hiring for the holiday season, they do so because they need specific jobs filled. Your best bet for landing one is to be flexible. Make it easy for them to hire you.
 
“The most important qualities are having a positive attitude, being available to work the needed schedule, and committing to working through the entire holiday season,” notes Snagajob. Beyond that, make sure you have specific job flexibility; don’t limit your own role in the company. 

Become An Interview Rock Star

Want to stand out among the throngs of applicants for seasonal jobs in your area? Learn how to ace an interview. Not only is it important to study and prepare for standard interview questions and have some questions of your own lined up (to show interest), but interviewers for holiday jobs often ask seasonal-specific questions. Know how to talk about why you are fine with temporary work, what your plans are following the season, and how flexible you can really be. 
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Work For Yourself

Maybe traditional holiday employment isn’t really your cup of tea. If not, you have various self-employment options. One great thing about the holiday season is that people are buying stuff in droves. This perfectly sets up a foray into the e-commerce realm. Online e-commerce sites and apps have made it easier than ever for crafty entrepreneurs to sell wares and make a solid return. Dropshipping, where you get an order from a customer and then direct the supplier to ship the product, is a great option. Dropshipping clothes is a good place to start. 

Volunteer

If making a lot of holiday spending cash isn’t a top priority, it may be super easy to land a job volunteering this season. Charity and philanthropic organizations are usually in dire need of help during the holidays, and finding meaningful work should be a piece of cake. Even though you won’t make money as a volunteer, you will be building your resume and grabbing invaluable experience for your future endeavors. 

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​Getting hired for seasonal work is both like and unlike traditional employment. Like applying for any job opening, you’ll want to present yourself in a way that shows you’re the best candidate for the job — eager, qualified, and interested. However, you should also focus on showing your seasonal-specific qualities. Be flexible. Know why you want a seasonal job. Rock your interviews. Be smart in your search. The rewards of holiday work are vast!
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