Jobhop Jobhop's blog : 6 of the Best Christmas Jobs to Help You Gain Work Experience

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Some shops have already been decorated, there are premature Christmas classics creeping onto everyone's playlists, and we're just starting to wonder whether it's too early to watch Elf. But what else is in store for you this festive season? Well, if you're looking for a job, there is no better time to do it.

Part-time jobs are popular among youngsters, particularly around Christmas time when, thanks to the distant student loan payment and having presents to buy, money is both short and desperately needed. Plenty of employers offer flexible contracts and shift work, meaning that within reason, you can work as many hours or as few hours as you so wish.

To help you gain some work experience (and earn some money at the same time) we've compiled a list of the best seasonal jobs...

1. The High Street

Unsurprisingly, retail comes out on top. Christmas and the new year is the most important time to retailers and sales can either make or break their year. The retail industry is booming during the festive period and you can pretty much pick and choose how many hours you want to do. Whether you want full time or part time, stock checking, customer service or even cleaning - the high street needs you this festive season. And you might even benefit from some staff discounts.

2. Supermarkets

You can pretty much do all of your Christmas shopping in a supermarket these days and lots of people do. From turkeys to televisions, your local supermarket has it all - including jobs available for warehouse and delivery workers and shelf-stackers. Hours can be as flexible and as plentiful as you'd like.

3. Pubs & Restaurants

'Tis the season to throw your diet out of the window and throw caution to the wind when it comes to what we eat and drink. Whether it's a big family get together or a work party, Christmas and the new year is when restaurants and pubs make most of their cash. With increased orders comes the chance for you to show off your waiting or pint pulling skills. The hours may be long, but the Christmas tips should make up for that.

4. Hotels

Hotels are packed out in the run-up to Christmas. If it's not people escaping for the festive period, then work parties are always looking for accommodation. This means that hotels are going to need extra help. If you like dealing with the public and you've got good interpersonal skills, then there is a good chance one of the local hotels will want you.

5. Santa's Grotto

If you're into amateur dramatics and don't mind dressing up as an elf (or maybe even Santa Claus himself), then you might find yourself in demand from shopping centres. Santa's grotto is a big business for your local shopping centre and if you like working with children (and maybe the odd reindeer) then why not give it a whirl? It could be your big break!

6. Baby, pet, and house sitting

With all the travel and social events surrounding the festive period, demand for babysitters, pet sitters , and house sitters naturally increases. If you have some free evenings or weekends in November and December, start calling your family, friends, and neighbours to let them know that you can be at their service.

While Christmas jobs might seem like a stopgap, they're actually a useful gateway to the world of work. For starters, working over the festive period is a great way of bulking out your CV and ensuring those awkward gaps in your job history are a little further apart.

You also never know who you're going to meet. You might think that working in a supermarket over Christmas isn't going to land you your dream career, but everyone has to start somewhere, and your manager may see something in you that will lead to a recommendation of a full time position slightly further up the food chain.

First impressions at big companies can lead to big career progression. Working for leading companies, like some of the large high street giants, leisure companies or supermarkets, sits well on your CV. There are large, successful companies, and you'll be able to say that you've been a small part of that success. Who knows, one day you could look back on that first Christmas job as the motivation for your entire career.