Where to find the best seasonal jobs

You may not have to look very far to find the perfect job for you. Your interests are reflected in the stores you frequent the most, and employers like to hire people who are knowledgeable and invested in their business. Here are some of the industries that get hot when it gets cool outside:

Retail jobs

This is a no-brainer. People buy more stuff during the holiday months. And they buy it at stores. Hence, more employees are needed for retail jobs. This is where you come in. Whether you want to refold shirts just yards from the mall food court or restock the aisles of your local toy store, the possibilities are endless. SuperStores such as Party City, Toys, Target, and Bed Bath & Beyond will all certainly be hiring extra workers this season. Be sure to ask potential employers if they offer an employee discount; you might be able to pick up gifts, like a back-scratcher for Dad and some bubble bath for Mom, without being cheap!

Restaurant jobs

Holiday foot traffic picks up at both fast food joints, such as Pizza Hut’s and McDonald’s, as well as casual dining eateries, including Romano’s Macaroni Grill and The Cheesecake Factory. Not only are people grabbing bites on the go between shopping stops, but they’re meeting up with family and friends. And when you’re spending days slaving in the kitchen on the year’s most anticipated home-cooked meals, you need a break from the potato peeler and the turkey baster at some point. Since restaurants are open later than your typical business, there’s added flexibility in the hours for restaurant jobs. And if you’re eligible for an employee discount, free or discounted grub will help you afford grabbing gifts for the grandparents and second cousins on your list.

Resort jobs and winter wonderlands

Hotels, ski resorts and ice skating rinks see a huge increase in their business in the winter and around the holidays. Not only will you have plenty to keep you busy, but you could get a discount on ski rentals, hotel stays or free ice skating passes for you and your friends. You could also join the wait staff at a resort or hotel restaurant, in which case you could score free or discounted meals. Besides, there’s nothing like a little snow and ice to really get you into the holiday spirit.

Eight good reasons to get a seasonal job

Well getting a job for the holidays will help out when time comes to pay off your credit card bills or throw a big holiday bash for your friends and family. But there are many other benefits to seasonal jobs you may not have thought before.

Here are the eight good reasons why you should look for a seasonal employment opportunity:

* Saving extra money for the holidays. Whether you already have a full-time job and you want to work part-time to supplement your income, or you just need extra money for gifts, you’ll definitely have more green in your wallet after your first paycheck of the season.

* Flexible timing and scheduling. Are you a student on winter break, or a parent who has to watch your kids now that school is out! Seasonal jobs offer a variety of scheduling options, and because stores and restaurants are open till late, there’s have to be a shift that suits your timings.

* Get a great discount. Don’t want to wait until Christmas Day to wear that sweater you’ve had your eye on all season? Many companies offer their workers employee discounts on merchandise, even if they’re only on the staff for the holidays. So you can get gifts for everyone on your list including yourself at cheaper prices.

* Hone skills and gain experience in a few weeks. Though holiday jobs can start anytime in October, November or December, most are over sometime in January, making seasonal employment a great way to test the skills you already have, as well as pick up some new ones to use in your next job search.

* Find your next job with ease. A seasonal job is a great opportunity to get your foot in the door and make a good impression, which can turn into part-time or full-time work after the holidays. Some employers ask superstar seasonal workers to remain on the staff once the holidays are over, so if you do your best, you could have a spring and summer job as well.

* Test drive a new job. A part-time job during the holidays allows you to try out a job you're interested in to decide whether or not it's really right for you. Whether you end up loving or hating it, your pockets will be fuller either way.

* Make new friends. Most businesses are fully staffed during the busy winter months, so you'll have plenty of opportunities to meet new people and bond with coworkers. Suggest a company Secret Santa drawing and you could even get yourself an extra gift.

* Get a reference for your next job search. When the hustle and bustle of the holidays is over, ask your boss if he or she would be a reference for you when it comes time to search for summer jobs.

Seasonal Job

If you’re looking for short-term work, you might want to explore the many seasonal jobs available to people. Though most may think of the seasonal job as a retail position during the winter holidays, there are actually many types of work that occur in different seasons and require a higher number of employees than usual. Sometimes the seasonal job is tourism based. For instance, it’s pretty easy to find summer jobs at places like theme parks, on cruise ships, or in hotels and restaurants with heavy summer tourist traffic. Employing a higher number of people year round wouldn’t make sense, but having extra employees during peak season can help with the extra work required.

Another industry known for its seasonal job market is agriculture. During harvesting of grapes, other fruits and vegetables, extra hands are needed. Sometimes these jobs are highly technical. A chemist or biologist who works as an enologist, helping to test and produce quality wine may be employed on a seasonal job basis, instead of year round. At other times, the work required in agriculture is primarily labor based, where people good at harvesting produce are chosen.

Other jobs that might be seasonal include work in the construction field. During rainy and snowy seasons, you can’t build a house with much ease. Most construction is done when the weather will be reasonably predictable, and where workers don’t have to fear things like rain destroying the interior of a home. More construction workers are needed during the seasons of peak production, and especially those workers who are skilled at labor have an easier time finding seasonal employment.

If you don’t have the capacity to participate in a harvest or do basic construction, there are plenty of jobs in the leisure industry and in retail available on a seasonal basis. Winter holidays tend to promote quite a few seasonal jobs in retail. Most companies hire workers right after Thanksgiving, and keep them employed until New Years Day. Amusement Parks may offer seasonal jobs only, since many of these parks are not open year round. Another type of seasonal job market is the temporary work available during country or state fairs. Tons of people are needed to run booths, or possibly to augment the staff of carnival workers. These jobs run the length of a carnival or fair and may be good for people who only have a few weeks to work.

The seasonal job then is a short-term position based on season, or a higher demand of workers for particular parts of the year. For people seeking to make a little money, or who suddenly have extra time, these jobs can be an excellent opportunity. You can also build relationships with employers who take on seasonal employees. If you’ve worked well for an employer in a prior season, they’re probably more inclined to hire you in the future, as they’re well aware of your skills and dependability.