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How to Land a Job Over the Holidays

While many people like to spend the holidays lying on a couch watching TV, others take the opportunity to make some extra cash. Businesses always need additional staff during the holiday season, which makes it a great time to look for work — especially if you don’t have much experience and are just starting out in your career. Whether this is your first job hunt or you’re a seasoned seasonal worker, here’s what you should keep in mind.

Choosing a Job

When it comes to looking for work, many people like to just apply for every available job. However, this is not necessarily a smart use of your time. It is a much better idea to narrow down what you’d like to do and focus on that area. You can then expand your scope as the job hunt continues. It’s a good idea to start as soon as possible, as companies start hiring for the holidays in the fall, and being proactive may place you ahead of the curve.

Don’t think that the only holiday job is retail. There are plenty of other high-paying seasonal jobs available, so take a minute to think outside the box. If you’re still struggling to come up with ideas, this article has some great tips on how to think like a seasonal job hunter.

Also, consider whether getting a holiday job is the best choice for you. There are several advantages, but are you willing to spend most of the holidays working? Getting a seasonal job is a big responsibility, so make sure you understand both the pros and cons before applying.

Sending Resumes

For many people, creating and sending resumes is the most frustrating part of job hunting. However, it really doesn’t have to be the case. As long as your resume looks professional, it can be enough to land you a good job. That said, it’s a good idea to check out sample resumes for different industries to see what you should be aiming for.

If a cover letter is required and you’re applying to loads of jobs, you should at least create different templates for different types of work — say, one for serving and one for retail. If there’s a job that you are really passionate about, write a separate cover letter from scratch — employers can usually tell the difference, and it can set you apart.

The Interview

If the resume stage has gone well, you will be invited to an interview. This is usually the scariest part, especially if you don’t have a lot of experience being interviewed, but it’s actually a lot more straightforward than you might imagine. Jobs in each industry tend to ask more or less the same questions, so prepare by writing down your answers to them.

Some interview questions are kind of tricky, especially around the holidays. This is because companies want to hire someone who seems committed but is still only willing to work for a few weeks. Monster has some great advice on how to deal with these holiday curveballs.

Finally, don’t be discouraged. Job hunting can be a tedious process, but it is one of the most important skills you can develop. Looking for work during the holidays is great practice, and you are more or less guaranteed to find something if you follow these tips and don’t give up. It will all be worth it when you get your first paycheck.

Contributed by a freelance writer.

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