A chill in the air, festive music on the radio, decorations all around… there’s no mistaking it — the holiday season is just around the corner. And while this is often a time of excitement and celebration, it can also be stressful, especially if you’re scrambling to drum up enough cash to buy gifts for everyone on your list.
If you’ve emptied out your piggy bank and are still coming up short, though, don’t worry. There are plenty of seasonal gigs that can put extra cash in your pocket this time of year. Below, we’ve included eight great options — check them out and apply while you still can!
Personal Shopper
Salary: $28,663/yr
Companies Hiring: Neiman Marcus, thredUP, Shipt, SBH Fashion, Lowes Foods & more
What They Do: Great news, shopaholics — you can get paid to do what you love most! Personal Shoppers are hired by companies to help assist customers in store. During the holiday season, this often means providing gift recommendations.
Ski Instructor
Salary: $25,137/yr
Companies Hiring: Vail Resorts, Incline Village, Snowshoe Mountain, Devil’s Thumb Ranch, Gunstock Mountain Resort & more
What They Do: Ski Instructors teach students how to downhill or cross-country ski. They work with ages ranging from children to adult, and typically must pass a basic skills exam. Depending where you work, you may also need to take a class and/or become certified.
Seasonal Sales Associate
Salary: $30,918/yr
Companies Hiring: Bath & Body Works, See’s Candies, Away, Coach Inc, Burlington Stores & more
What They Do: Seasonal Sales Associates are retail employees hired on a temporary basis to assist during the busiest times of the year. Their tasks might involve answering customers’ questions, taking stock of merchandise, addressing customer service concerns, maintenance and more.
Zamboni Driver
Salary: $10/hr
Companies Hiring: SMG, City of Birmingham – Michigan, Foothills Park & Recreation District, Ice Castle, Shamrocks Rink Management & more
What They Do: Zamboni Drivers operate zambonis, machines that are used to create smooth skating surfaces at ice rinks.
Cashier
Salary: $23,869/yr
Companies Hiring: ALDI, Meijer, The Cheesecake Factory, Lands’ End, Big 5 & more
What They Do: Cashiers are on the front line of holiday shopping. They ring up orders, bag items, give change and provide customers with great service.
Warehouse Associate
Salary: $31,633/yr
Companies Hiring: Amazon, Tellworks, ShipMonk, Target, Walmart & more
What They Do: Santa’s elves may get all the credit, but Warehouse Associates are just as responsible for making the holidays happen. Warehouse Associates are employed at fulfillment centers where they receive, pack and ship orders, organize merchandise, conduct inventory and more.
Gift Wrapper
Salary: $10/hr
Companies Hiring: Circles, Hallmark, Williams-Sonoma, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus & more
What They Do: As their name suggests, Gift Wrappers are hired to wrap presents. Having an eye for design and a steady hand is critical for success in this role.
Visual Merchandiser
Salary: $34,706/yr
Companies Hiring: Target, Macy’s, DICK’S Sporting Goods, H&M, Free People & more
What They Do: If you’ve got a flair for the arts, Visual Merchandiser could be a great holiday gig for you. Visual Merchandisers are responsible for showcasing merchandise in a visually appealing way in order to draw in customers and boost sales.
