MAKE SEASONAL JOBS WORK FOR YOU!

The Halloween merchandise is currently cackling at us from the shelves; no sooner has the candy overload subsided and the pumpkins have been made into soup but Christmas comes jingling down the tracks. With presents to buy and the party season upon us, a priority for retailers and businesses in the hospitality industry, is staffing. 

If you are a young person at school, you might be starting to think about searching for your first part-time job and this flurry of additional positions available in your local town centre or retail park, are a great way to start. Whether you want to buy your own gifts for people this year or are thinking ahead to leaving school there are many reasons to jump on the seasonal job sleigh. 

WORK EXPERIENCE

Young people at school are always encouraged to enter the workplace for a short work placement, to gain first-hand experience of the world of work. You might do this as a week out of school, you might have a flexible placement alongside your studies or it could delivered in 'wider achievement' time, but having a part-time job is a great way of taking this work experience one step further.

Although employers prefer to look for individuals who have already had experience, who understand work ethics and have a little substance to their bold claims of 'excellent time keeping', 'great team player' and 'good communicator', around this time of year they may be more likely to take someone on who hasn't had much experience. And believe it or not, they aren't averse to giving someone their first step onto the ladder, after all, someone once gave them theirs.

By getting a part-time job whilst you are still at school you are preparing yourself for your next step along the career path. Gaining any work experience gives you those desirable situational 'examples' to talk about in future interviews and can show an employer, college or university that you are someone they want on their team, a hard-worker and able to manage your time.

DEVELOP TRANSFERABLE SKILLS

It is undeniable that a part-time job will teach you life skills that you might not learn anywhere else. 

The crazy, fast pace of retail and hospitality at Christmastime provides you with a platform to springboard from. The experience of the camaraderie of working relationships, where being a reliable and depended-on team member is vital. A part-time job gives you your first experience of true independence, of taking responsibility and using your initiative, the opportunity to develop valuable skills that can be carried across different jobs throughout your life!

GROW YOUR PROFESSIONAL NETWORK

In the run up to Christmas the retail and hospitality industries tend to be advertising continuously but no matter where you’re working, a part-time job gives you the chance to network. Whether you are a customer sales assistant or food and beverage server you are likely to be customer facing and your customer could be your next boss.

​Treat every conversation as an opportunity to make a connection in the professional world. 

LEARN MONEY MANAGEMENT SKILLS

Any young person will benefit from some experience of customer service. Whether you are selling a product or service, people buy from people but something even more valuable to any young person is experience of money managing and budgeting.

Once you are earning, money takes on a whole new meaning. It's not just something you are given. Its something you earn, and the process of earning it becomes more understandable: PAYE, tax and national insurance all become 'applied' rather than 'theoretical' concepts. The younger you are when you begin to understand budgeting and saving, the more likely you are to be able to manage your money in the future.

INCREASE YOUR CONFIDENCE

As mentioned before 'tis the season for customer facing roles and whether you work in a clothes shop, toy shop, restaurant or cafe you will come face to face with every type of customer.

​When you arrive for work you have to put your 'Disney Smile' on and you are there to serve. Some young people may find this easier than others but one thing's for sure; if you enter the workplace willing to learn but a little on the shy side, a stint in customer service will only boost your confidence and give you experience of 'client management'. Whether your making someone's day by finding them what they need, dealing with a complaint or negotiating a sale you are gaining experience of dealing with situations that will make you more confident to deal with them again.
​

Every opportunity to explore an industry or sector is an opportunity to know yourself better. Even if your part-time job is in a sector that you don't necessarily want to pursue as a career, it is still an opportunity to develop your skills. You never know, you might enjoy your part-time job so much that you change direction from what you originally thought to be your desired career path.

​Now that you have considered why you might get a part-time seasonal job have a look at our 'Young People' pages for more hints and tips on how to get the job.