Just like the change in weather, the market for seasonal jobs varies too. The majority of them lead up to the holiday season, around the winter months, or during the summer holidays. Since there is no stop to gaining experience (and a little extra cash), it is a no-brainer that seasonal jobs are popular among the youth and the adults too.
Depending on the niche and the job type, the hiring for the seasonal job varies. While the tourism, transportation, and retail industry see a peak in the business (and thereby hiring) during the winter months, there are some other niches like the healthcare and restaurant industry that hire as per their convenience.
But, what kind of seasonal jobs are the best paying in the market? If you are here to know about that, scroll down.
What Are Seasonal Jobs?
Seasonal jobs are a lot different than part-time or full-time jobs. These are the recurring jobs that require hiring in specific seasons because of the rising duties and demands in the industry.
Many such work positions are available for a specific period of the year. Hence the workers are employed accordingly and just for that phase of time.
The time of hire varies depending on the industry. While the retail sector is busiest during the winter and Christmas holidays, the tourism and boating industry see its peak during the summer months.
What are the Best Paying Seasonal Jobs?
Now that you know what seasonal jobs are, it is time we move on to the different types of jobs in this category. Unlike your high paying IT jobs, these aren’t the most rewarding, but they are decently paid.
Some of the best ones include:
Gift Wrapper
If you have ever gone out for Christmas shopping, you know the rush the retail stores experience. Aside from sales, wrapping gifts is a task that demands skilled professionals during that time of the year.
So, retail industries put out job applications hiring for the position of gift wrapper. They are specifically required to wrap the customer’s gifts using the wrappers, ribbons, and tags. They are often professionally trained before the start of their employment.
The average pay varies from $11-$12 per hour.
Seasonal Passenger Service Agents
Ahead of the holiday season, several airlines hire passenger service agents who are responsible for taking care of passenger’s luggage and ensuring that the right luggage is lauded on the right flight.
These positions are often open for six months a year and could be less as well. The agents are required to commit to 40 hours/week for an average pay of $15.60 per hour.
Holiday Driver and Helper
If you can drive well or don’t mind doing some heavy-lifting, holiday drivers and helpers make for a great fit for seasonal jobs. Since the rush in deliveries is often more during the holiday season, delivery companies like FedEx and UPS often ramp up their hiring process for a few months.
The best way to apply to these jobs is by looking them up online during those holiday months. The job listing is more often on the website itself.
Retail Sales Associate
Christmas time sees the maximum rush of customers in the Western countries. So, it is a given that big retail companies have to hire more sales associates to cater to the rising demand. The majority of them are hired as floor attendants to guide the customers in the right direction and help them find the items in their purchase list.
The pay for this role often varies depending on the position of the worker and the kind of retail stores they are employed in. If you work in Walmart, your hourly pay will likely be a lot less than that of a high-end store like Gucci.
The average pay in such jobs vary between $11-$12 per hour and could be more depending on the accessory factors.
Seasonal Delivery Executives
Much like the retail stores, even online e-commerce stores like Amazon increase their hiring for delivery executives during the peak of the holiday season. Not only during the Christmas holidays, but these big companies also hire during the Black Friday sales when the number of deliveries is a lot more than usual.
As for the average pay of such workers, it is around $16 per hour.
Festival Jobs
Unlike the winter holidays, the need for seasonal workers is equally more during the summer months, especially with the booming rise of the music festivals, fairs, and the amplitude of outdoor events.
There are several on-site jobs concerning the events or even with the food and drink shacks that are abundantly available in such sites. You need to know the right people to land a well-paid job.
When Should You Apply for Seasonal Jobs?
If you don’t like sitting around the house idle during the holiday season, you should start looking for some recurring jobs. The best time to search is before the season begins. So, if you want to land a job in the retail industry during the Christmas season, you need to start looking for the job ahead of time.
Likewise, if you are looking for a summer job, you need to begin your search from the end of spring. But, in case you haven’t done your research prior and you need a job badly, try looking at job listings online or visit the nearest stores from you and apply directly there. If the rush is high and the place is short-staffed, they will likely hire you on the spot.
Conclusion
Seasonal jobs are a fantastic way of earning some extra cash during the holiday season. The pay is decent, but the work can be a tumultuous ride. You must take the position seriously and get good recommendations at the end of your employment. These might not seem much rewarding as full-time jobs, but they add an excellent reflection to your experience section in the resume.