How To Find A Temp Job This Christmas

The hospitality, retail and delivery sectors are insanely busy both in the run-up to Christmas and over the festive season. The hospitality sector includes pubs, cafes, restaurants, hotels, B&Bs, event venues and transport providers. These types of businesses need waiting staff, serving staff, chefs, kitchen assistants, cleaners, housekeepers and drivers.  Christmas is the peak selling season for the majority of retailers. Supermarkets see a huge uptake in customers in the weeks leading up to Christmas and New Year as people are stocking up on food and drink. Clothing stores, gift stockists and electronic stores also see a surge in customers. To help serve all these new shoppers they need customer service associates, stockroom assistants and cashiers.  On average, spending online increases by around 30% in the Christmas period. To process these orders and deliver them businesses need extra warehouse staff, customer service assistants and delivery drivers.

Some of the most well known companies hiring for Christmas jobs include:

• Royal Mail – Christmas jobs include Mail Sorters and Delivery Drivers.
• Boots – Temporary Christmas jobs include Customer Assistants and Customer Advisors.
• Tesco – Temporary jobs Tesco hire for over Christmas include Customer Assistants, Checkout Operatives and Replenishment Assistants.
• Marks and Spencer – Christmas jobs include Call Centre Operatives and Customer Assistants.
• Argos – Temporary Christmas jobs on offer at Argos include Customer Service Advisors and Delivery Drivers.
• John Lewis – Temporary Christmas jobs include Stock Assistants, Sales Assistants and Catering Assistants.

Check out other companies who may be hiring for temporary Christmas jobs.

There’s no set date when businesses start advertising for temporary Christmas staff, but jobs may start appearing around October. Instead of checking out each business’s website to see if they’re hiring, use Glassdoor’s job search function to search for temporary Christmas jobs in your area. When you see one that you like hit ‘Apply Now’.  You also need to consider your personal circumstances when searching for Christmas temp jobs. It’s no good applying for jobs that don’t work with your schedule or responsibilities. For example, if you’re a student and your term finishes in mid-December it’s no good applying for a job with a start date of the end of November.  Related: 7 Things To Research Before Applying To A Job

It’s hard to say for definite how long your Christmas temp job will last as each business’ Christmas period is different. Some shops start stocking Christmas products from as early as September! Typically though you can expect to work from November through to the end of January / the beginning of February. However, you may start your training in October so you’re prepared for the rush that starts in November.

A temporary seasonal job is a great way to try out different jobs in several sectors. If you find a job that you really enjoy and you’d love to turn your temporary Christmas job into a permanent position, here are some things you can do to show your employer you’ll make a great addition to their company:

• Research open vacancies  

Check out the company’s noticeboard or speak to HR to see what permanent jobs they’re hiring for. You can also see open vacancies they have on their Glassdoor company page.

• Be reliable

Punctuality and reliability are sought after traits by employers. Ensure that you turn up to work in the right attire and on time. Also make it known to them that you’re available for extra shifts – this will show your employer that you’re willing to help out when it’s needed.

• Have a positive attitude

Nobody will want to hire someone who is negative or who is difficult to work with. So approach your tasks and responsibilities with a positive attitude. If you think tasks could be done better, let your manager know. This shows them that you’ve got initiative.

• Get along with others 

Even though it’s a temporary job, make the effort to get to know your colleagues. You don’t have to become best friends, but if you’re trying to show an employer that you’ll be a valuable long-term member of staff, showing them that you get along with colleagues will work in your favour.

• Be open about your interest in working for them permanently 

If your contract is nearing its end, approach your line manager or the HR department directly and express your interest in working for the company permanently. They’ll appreciate your initiative, and even if there isn’t a permanent job immediately available, they’ll be sure to remember you when there is.

Related: 5 Steps To Be Happy At Work