What jobs are available over Christmas?
Event planners, turkey pluckers and gift wrappers all need extra help during the festive season. The UK’s biggest Christmas recruiter, Royal Mail, takes on around 20,000 Christmas employees every winter, while the other top five retail Christmas recruiters take on more than 60,000 workers each year. “There are so many options,” says Mike Powell, head of sales at CV-Library. “In the weeks leading up to Christmas there is an influx of customer service, retail and warehouse jobs.”
When should I start applying?
Most applications for Christmas jobs are open from October. “We’ve already seen a big influx of Christmas jobs and these started going up several weeks ago – keep an eye on job websites and get in touch with your local recruitment agencies to flag your availability,” says Powell.
“I’d start looking now,” agrees Lydia Fairman, founder of Fairman Consulting. “If there’s any training required they’ll want to start getting people on board. Demand is already increasing so the jobs are out there.”
Nadine Kemp, project manager for Royal Mail’s Christmas recruitment campaign, adds “our own vacancies are already live, so it is worth checking now to see what is available in your local area”.
Where can I find a Christmas job?
It’s worth looking past regular job posting sites and newspapers, as “too many jobseekers are using these avenues”, says Alex Townley, marketing manager for City Internships and City Careers. “Instead try approaching hiring managers directly on social media and call up companies even if they aren’t hiring.”
Fairman agrees that it pays to be proactive in your search. “I’d look at job boards and local papers, and also good, old-fashioned shop windows.”
If you are running out of ideas, put yourself in recruiter’s shoes. “It could be a good idea to think about where you are likely to visit coming up to Christmas. Are you planning on buying gifts, or going out with friends more often? If you’re planning on going to shops, cafes or bars, chances are other people will be too and those places will need extra staff,” says Tom Laws, careers adviser for the National Careers Service.
How do I write a successful application?
Overall, it’s important to match your job application as closely as possible to the skills listed in the role. “Start by making a list of the key characteristics needed for the role you’re applying to,” says Jonathan Burston, founder of Interview Expert Academy. “Then match the key characteristics of the role to your skills by showing how you have that relevant experience.”
This may be easier if you spend some time thinking about what you can offer the company. “When writing your application think about the benefit you will bring to their organisation. This is essentially about you solving a problem for them.”
So a key aspect of the applications is explaining the benefits of hiring you, adds Burston. “And finally, double check what you’ve written. Does it make sense? Do your skills match the job specification? Once you’re happy, make sure you check over your grammar and spelling with a trusted friend.”
What should I include in my application if I have no work experience?
It’s not necessary to have experience directly related to the role you’re applying to. “You can draw on any element of your experience – paid or unpaid, academic or practical – to evidence your suitability for the role,” says Lis McGuire, CV writer and founder of Giraffe CVs. “Draw out the best examples of the desired skills in action, and don’t be afraid to mix and match. If the job requires teamwork, you could use a university project or team sport to show this, for example.”
Townley agrees that you can draw on a range of non-work experience to show your suitability for the role. “There are plenty of skills gained from academic or extra-curricular roles that you can emphasise. For example, if you have worked on group projects this will give you experience of teamwork, leadership skills and more generally, attention to detail.”
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