It’s that time of year again! Christmas is just around the corner, and retailers are looking for casual staff to provide extra help during the busiest season of the year. If you’re thinking of getting a Christmas casual job this year, now is the time to start looking!
According to data from the job-seeking site Indeed, employers start to advertise Christmas casual jobs in August. By the time December rolls around, there are fewer positions still available, but there are always businesses looking to fill a few last-minute roles!
The holiday season is the perfect time for international students to make some extra money and an opportunity to gain valuable practical experience. So, here are seven tips to secure a Christmas casual role!
1. Find the right Christmas casual job for you
Think about the kind of role that you want. What are the things you like doing and the stores you like visiting? An important consideration is whether you enjoy speaking to customers or not. If you do, there are a variety of casual retail and sales assistant roles available over the Christmas period. If you do not enjoy customer service, you might consider applying to do packing, online fulfilment, forklift operation, and any other behind-the-scenes role. Deciding what type of role you are interested in will help you narrow your search and prepare accordingly.
2. Update your resumé
Do not use your internship resumé for these roles. Christmas casual employers are looking for specific things, and your resumé must consider these. During this time, employers are usually time-poor and receive multitudes of applications. Help your resumé stand out by following these tips:
- Make sure your resumé is no longer than two pages.
- Mention your contact details on top so employers have quick access (many employers will call to assess communication skills over the phone).
- Put your availability near the top, mentioning the flexible hours/days you can work.
- In most cases, there is no need to mention the details of your course – the university and program name will suffice (though if you are studying hospitality and applying for a hospitality job, it can be helpful to include your GPA).
- If you possess key skills that are relevant to the job, mention these (for example, people skills, organisational skills and communication skills are crucial in most Christmas casual positions).
- Remember to mention any leadership positions you might have held, including in school.
- Mention any previous casual jobs or volunteering roles you have had.
- A short note on your hobbies and interests can help to showcase your personality.
3. Research the brand
While most Christmas casual listings do not ask you to provide a cover letter, you may be asked why you are interested in the role or the company.
Before writing a response, have a look at the company’s website and read through the brand values. Matching your response to these values, and aligning them to your own values and experiences, shows the employer that you will be a fitting addition to their company and teams.
If you have ever held a retail or customer service job, make sure to mention skills such as point-of-sale handling, bagging and gift-wrapping.