Some of Ireland's big companies – including Smyths, Brown Thomas and Boots – are hiring.
Nobody knows exactly how Christmas 2020 is going to look, or how retailers will operate amid Covid-19 restrictions – but many are putting the feelers out regardless, with a trove of job opportunities currently being advertised.
If you're hoping to get back into the jobs market, now's your chance – with vacancies opening across the Irish retail sector.
Here's our pick of the bunch, as we pinpoint seven big companies hiring for Christmas roles with decent pay.
Tesco Ireland
Tesco is recruiting part-time sales assistants with one eye on Christmas. Currently, the supermarket giant is advertising part-time roles in Limerick, Dublin, Meath and Mayo, to name only a few.
And the pay isn't half bad, either – the average for a customer assistant is €11.30 per hour, according to payscale.com.
The deadline for applications varies, with some closing next week while others are open until early December.
Check out Tesco's careers page for more.
Smyths Toys
Nothing screams Christmas like Smyths Toys, and if you fancy a slice of the action ahead of what's likely to be a packed festive period, you could do worse than sending an application into the iconic megastore.
Smyths promises "exciting work in an environment where you can advance fast", and it's hiring sales assistants in Galway, Mayo, Limerick and Dublin.
It's well worth having a look on their jobs page if you're of a mind.
Penneys
Another staple of the Christmas experience, Penneys is hiring retail assistants in Sligo, Portlaoise, Waterford, Mullingar and several other locations.
It's a sign that the low-cost fashion behemoth expects a busy Christmas, and the pay is good – averaging out at between €12 and €17 an hour.
Know your hooks from your hangers? Get applying.
Christmas Warehouse Elves
If you've always fancied yourself as a bit of a Christmas expert, then this next offer – while it's coming out of left field – might just be for you.
PRL Recruitment is hiring "awesome Elves to help Santa's Logistic and Warehousing department", in Rathcoole and Greenogue.
While you probably won't get a go in the sleigh, the company is after people who work "with a smile".
If that's you, get an application in pronto – it's on jobs.ie.
JD Sports
The self-professed "king of trainers" is on the lookout for new staff to train into roles across Ireland – just in time for Christmas.
Its website is listing jobs in Cork, Wexford, Kilkenny and Kildare, so if you're a runner expert or just like the cut of JD's jib, take a look online.
Brown Thomas and Arnotts
We're all well-used to the annual trips into Brown Thomas and Arnotts to pick up presents for the family.
And it seems the classy stores are anticipating a frenzied festive period, with jobs galore being advertised online.
Across Arnotts and Brown Thomas, there's vacancies in Galway, Cork, Dublin and Limerick, so there's something for you wherever you are.
In Brown Thomas, your hourly pay will likely come in between €10 and €14 per hour, so successful candidates won't be short of a few quid for Christmas.
Boots
Ireland's biggest pharmacy is on the hunt for Christmas staff, with an emphasis on people who're able to provide top-notch customer service.
If you think of yourself as a retail expert, then it's worth chucking an application in – your hourly pay is estimated to be somewhere between €9 and €12 hourly, according to payscale.com.
Take a look online.
