QUESTIONS ABOUT FINANCE
By Taylor J Kovar, CEO – Kovar Capital
–Hey Taylor – I’m thinking about picking up part-time work around the holidays and wondered if you had any suggestions. I’m not looking for a new career, just hoping to make a few extra dollars to help cover gifts and travel and such. Thanks! – Brooke
–Hey Brooke – First off, I think seasonal work is a great way to bring in a little extra money. People often ask about how to find a side hustle, and jobs that are dependent on holidays or weather are a great place to start.
As far as what work you should look for around the holidays, there are almost too many options to mention. I’d start by thinking about the hours you can realistically keep open, as you don’t want to get halfway through the interview process and realize a job won’t work with your schedule. Decide if you’re willing to give up weekends, or if you need to limit the work to weekdays and weeknights.
Once you have an idea of what you’re looking for, look at the local industries and figure out what positions are created by the holiday rush. There are a lot of additional delivery services around Christmas time, so that’s something you can look into. Companies like UPS and FedEx often bring on seasonal workers to deal with the all the extra shipping.
Customer support is another option. Right after the turn of the year, companies experience a surge in customers needing help operating devices and using new services. This rush doesn’t last through the year, so a lot of online companies bring on seasonal help in January to make it through the busy time. It won’t help you bring in extra money before Christmas, but this type of work also conflicts less with most holiday travel plans.
In mid-December you could look at a part-time retail job, as outlet stores and malls get hit the hardest in the weeks leading up to December 25th. If you already have retail experience, you could land a pretty good gig. If you don’t have any retail experience, this is a good opportunity to get some.
Lastly, you can look to get catering work for holiday parties. Businesses across the globe will be throwing annual holiday parties and bringing on teams to cater and prep for those events, and you can expect small catering companies to hire more staff as the parties start to pile up. Working just a few events can do a lot to pad your wallet.
If you have the time, I think picking up extra work on a seasonal basis is a smart move. Think about your schedule and the types of industries hiring, and I’m sure you’ll find something that works for you. Good luck, Brooke!
