The Students’ Guide to Getting a Christmas Temp Job

They advise using recruitment agencies that specialize in temporary work contracts: “agencies can be useful to help you find jobs that aren't advertised to individuals online or in the press.” You can apply for these agencies online through websites such as Agency Central.

LinkedInis another great way to find temporary Christmas jobs. Find out more about using social media to get a job here.

The sooner you apply the better. Some Christmas jobs open as early as October, but most open in November, and many advertise in December – so you still have time to apply!   

Again, this depends on the type of job you’re looking for. Most will ask for an initial online application, where you’ll be asked to submit basic information, your CV and possibly a cover letter. You may be then asked to complete some online tests if you are applying to a larger company – find out how to prepare for online psychometric tests here. Successful applicants will then be invited to attend a either a group interview, or individual interview.

To prepare for your interview, find out how to answer the most common job interview questions here.

The skills you’ll need will, of course, depend on the job you’re applying for. “Start by making a list of the key characteristics needed for the role you’re applying to,” the founder of Interview Expert Academy, Jonathan Burston, tells the Guardian. “Then match the key characteristics of the role to your skills by showing how you have that relevant experience.”

This experience can be paid or unpaid, or even academic or from a hobby. Matching your skills and experience to those requested on the advert shows that you can pay attention to detail, and that you can apply your skills to those in the job description. For example, health and beauty store, Superdrug say they are looking for “a positive mindset, people who can support their team to get things done and enjoy getting involved.” Here you could talk about a time when you supported a team (for example in a group project or in a part time job) and give examples of when you were involved (perhaps in a university society.)

Remember, the company is only hiring you on a temporary basis, so they want to know that you are reliable, can complete any given task and provide excellent customer service at all times.

Read these handy tips on how to make your job application stand out.

Most Christmas temp jobs will expect you to work at least one out of Christmas Eve, Boxing Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, so make sure you are available to work on those days if required.

How often and when companies expect you to work will, once again, depend on the company, and you’ll usually be able to select a more flexible contract if you wish. For example, UK retailer Next says they have “a range of contracts available, from now until January 2020, or for as little as 2 days over [the January] sale” so you really can suit your workload to your availability.