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The 12 holiday jobs of 2022

Thanksgiving is right around the corner, landing on Thursday 24 November this year. It kickstarts the holiday season which runs right through to the New Year. This is a time for celebration and giving. 

If you’re looking for some extra income during the holidays, check out these 12 seasonal roles below we think you’ll love. 

 

1. Store Assistant

Average salary: $31,498

If you want to be the first in line for Black Friday deals on the 25th of November, take on a role at your local retailer. You’ll be able to bag some sale items before stores open, normally with an employee discount.

Store assistant jobs tend to be offered with a choice of part-time or full-time hours and loads of seasonal roles crop up throughout the holiday season.

You’ll be expected to work on the cash registers, restock shelves, and might even need to look after window displays. 

You’ll need to be super friendly, great at customer service, and willing to put in some longer hours during key shopping days like Black Friday and Cyber Monday. 

Interested in a role in retail? Check out our latest roles here.

 

2. Hospitality

Average hourly rate: $15 $22

This year will be the first year that we’ll be seeing some nationwide normality during the holidays. Office Christmas parties will be back to full scale which means the hospitality industry will be extra busy.

Typical hospitality roles include concierges, waiters and event assistants. You’ll need to be available for shift-based work and be pretty flexible.

If you’re great at serving people and also dealing with any complaints, you’re likely to succeed in the role. You could expect to see some quite substantial tips because many people tend to be generous during the holidays. 

Think hospitality could be the perfect seasonal role for you? We’ve got hundreds of thousands of roles available now

 

3. Turkey Farmer

Average hourly rate: $15

Let’s face it, one of the best things about a Thanksgiving meal is the turkey. Bring home the turkeys this Thanksgiving by taking on a seasonal role in a turkey farm.

You’ll be looking after the animals, feeding them, cleaning out pens, and making sure that there are 46 million turkeys ready for Thanksgiving. 

This definitely isn’t a role if you’re squeamish or not a meat eater, but there will also be seasonal farming roles taking care of vegetables like yams. 

Does a role in farming sound interesting? Find out more about farming jobs here

 

4. Christmas Elf

Average hourly rate: $8 – $16

Fancy getting up close and personal with Santa? Up and down the country, elves will be popping up in stores and malls to spread festive joy. 

If you can be cheerful 100% of the time and love Christmas and kids, a Christmas elf role could be perfect for you. 

Your roles might include taking photos, being in photos, giving out presents, and even repairing and laundering elf outfits. You’ll be expected to get involved in multiple tasks, look after Santa, and take on a range of tasks. 

Does this sound like your perfect holiday role? Start applying here!

 

5. Makeup Artist

Average salary: $26,000 – $50,000

There are loads of job opportunities for people with superb makeup skills over the holidays. You could be helping people to look like the dreamiest elves they can be, doing turkey-themed face painting for children, or simply making people feel extra special for their holiday parties.

You’ll be expected to show a portfolio of past works, and you might need to bring some of your makeup tools. If you don’t have any experience yet, makeup counters in malls or stores could be a great place to start. They are usually happy to offer training as they will be looking for extra employees in the busy pre-Christmas rush. 

Ready to bring a smile to someone’s face during the holidays? Check out our latest makeup artist roles here

 

6. Hair Stylist

Average salary: $23,000 – 35,000

Similar to a role as a makeup artist, hair stylists are going to be highly sought after over the holidays. Many want to look their best at parties and dinners, and a nice blowout always does the trick.

You’ll need to have completed your training, have a portfolio, and be ready to give that perfect holiday cut and blow dry. Perhaps you’ve worked in a salon before but taken some time out for school or family? Taking on some shifts could be a great way of earning some extra money before the end of the year. You’ll probably make some tips too!

If you’re interested in hairdressing but don’t have much hands-on experience, don’t worry! Salons are going to be busy this time of year so they will be looking for people to welcome customers, wash hair, and tidy up. This could be the perfect first step on the ladder. 

Ready to get those scissors out? Check out our latest roles here

 

7. Lighting Technician

Average salary: $30,000 – $50,745 

In suburban areas, it’s not uncommon for people to pay others to get the interior or exterior of their house professionally decorated. Impressive light displays can turn a house from suburban Santa Fe into Santa’s Grotto. 

You’ll be expected to install lights in towns, in houses, in malls, or even in residential parks. You’ll need to have a solid understanding of health and safety and not be afraid of heights. 

It’s a great job for someone who likes to work independently or in a small team and doesn’t like dealing with too many people. 

Interested in bringing some magic to Christmas? Find our latest lighting roles here

 

8. Babysitter

Average hourly rate: $16 – $19

Parents with young kids will probably want a break between Thanksgiving and New Year, and that’s why they need babysitters. 

You might be picking the kids up from school and taking care of them while the parents go to work, looking after them for an evening while their parents go to a New Year’s Eve party, or just filling in while the parents go on a Christmas shopping spree. 

Depending on the role, you might be expected to have completed a certain level of education, know first aid, or have had a police check. One thing is for sure, you’ll need eyes in the back of your head!

Check out our latest babysitter jobs here

 

9. Private Chef

Average salary: $39,000 – 62,983

If you have excellent cooking skills and can handle pressure, perhaps you should consider working as a private chef during the holidays.

Private chefs are hired to feed families throughout the day. Often the meals will need to be nutritious and delicious and you’ll also need to cater to any dietary requirements and allergies. 

During the holidays, your role might include cooking the family’s Thanksgiving dinner, hosting small holiday events and parties, and even catering at Christmas. If this becomes a permanent role you might get to travel with the family, spending time in their holiday home near the beach or even overseas. 

Fancy cooking delicious food throughout the holiday season? It’s time to explore private cheffing here

 

10. Personal Shopper

Average salary: $37,259

If you have exquisite taste in fashion and are obsessed with holiday shopping, perhaps you should look at careers in personal shopping.

Hired by the store or mall you’ll be paid to shop for customers who want great gifts without the effort. You may even be required to pick out outfits for them to wear to special occasions. 

It’s a great opportunity to live vicariously through big spenders, without splurging yourself. 

Want to shop til you drop? Well, check out these personal shopping roles here

 

11. Gift Wrapper

Average hourly rate: $16.6

Are you less into buying gifts and more into wrapping? Gift wrappers add an extra sprinkle of magic to gifts and are in high demand during the holidays. 

You’ll need to be artistic, great with ribbons and bows, and be able to create something that’s Instagram-perfect. 

This is a great job for anyone who has an eye for detail and is able to wrap quickly and efficiently. You might expect to earn some commission and should definitely expect some tips for good service. 

See our latest gift-wrapping roles here

 

12. Volunteer

Average salary: a warm and fuzzy feeling 

There’s nothing better than giving back in the holidays. Especially when so many people are in need in our communities. 

You could lend a helping hand by offering warm meals to the homeless, helping out at a local animal rescue, running a community fundraiser, or just giving the lonely a listening ear. It is the season of giving after all!

Although voluntary roles are unpaid they’re a great opportunity to meet new people, gain new experiences, and help others. 

Interested in supporting others during the holidays? We’ve got hundreds of thousands of volunteering roles here


? Read more: 6 job scares to look out for this spooky season