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The cold, chilly weather is finally among us and Christmas is (somehow) only a stone's throw away. Although the Government's announcement has granted us permission to visit our families, this year's Christmas is likely to be very different from any we have had before. Despite everything that has happened, Christmas is likely to be as expensive as ever, especially with the financial implications that Covid-19 has had on families throughout the UK. I'm sure we could all do with a little bit of extra cash in our pockets to help fund this year's festivities, and a Christmas job is a great way to do exactly that, not only earning you an extra bit of spending money but also building upon your experience and growing your CV.

Regardless of everything that has happened with Coronavirus, there are still numerous businesses and brands that are ramping up their recruitment campaigns for Christmas - and although competition is rife, with the right strategy you could be one of many finding a job to help see you through Christmas time.

Our Top Tips for Finding a Christmas Jobs:

Finding a job this Christmas may turn out to be more difficult than you imagined, according to CV-Library, applications are up a staggering 33% in Q3 of 2020, with this expected to continue over the Christmas period. So what is the best strategy of finding work amidst all the competition?

When looking for a job during Christmas, it is important that you apply with plenty of time to spare, make yourself available and be ready to jump on any opportunity at a moments notice. The Christmas job market is always competitive, however, this year could be one of the most competitive yet. Most Christmas hospitality jobs have more than 25 applicants per position, so the earlier you apply, and the more applications you do, the more chance you have of securing a Winter placement. It is also important that you let employers know that you are available for any kind of work they have on offer, whenever it is on offer. If you are asked to list your available hours during an interview, list as many as physically possible - you want to be as flexible and as adaptable as you can be in order to secure the best Christmas positions. Also, be prepared to work at a moments notice, cancellations can happen and being a willing back-up can be a great way of getting last-minute employment.

Prioritise your search in the sectors you know will be hiring, this usually includes the hospitality, retail or customer service sectors. Come the 2nd of December, many parts of the country will see restaurants and bars open again after a month of being closed. Places will want to ensure they are taking as much profit as possible, so they won't want to risk missing out on any business from the post-lockdown rush. This means that many places could be looking for an extra pair of hands to see them through Christmas time. This period is also one of the biggest for anyone in the retail or supply-chain sector, shops will be flooded as per usual, and if they aren't, then you can bet your money that big retailers like Amazon will have their warehouses working full-speed ahead.

Focus on your skills in order to maximise your chances. If you have five years working as a brilliant bartender who can make delicious festive cocktails from memory, then you probably want to focus your application on bars and pubs, especially if they have a cocktail station. Finding a job comes down to how well you can sell yourself and your skillset. Play to your strengths it will increase your chances tenfold. Remember, don't be disheartened if you don't have much experience behind you, this is where being a flexible and adaptable employee can work in your favour!

Keep contact long after your Christmas job has ended, because if you find yourself in this position again, a good contact can be a great shortcut to a job opportunity. It is win-win really, you get to return for a stint of seasonal employment, earning a bit of extra money in the process, whereas the employer saves themselves both money and time that is associated with training and recruitment.

Who's Hiring?

• John Lewis / Waitrose are also looking for staff over Christmas. With a generous wage packet, a 10% discount and boxing day off, it is a great seasonal gig to land. Positions available include sales assistant; stock assistant; catering assistant; food hall assistant; supermarket assistant
• Poundland is hiring various sales assistants to bulk up its numbers over the busy festive period. Availability varies depending on your location.
• Primark is offering various positions with varying hours - with their recent announcement of a 24-hour shop, even more, staff will be required. You can view available positions here: retail assistant.
• Sports Direct also joins the list of companies hiring this Christmas - offering staff a 20% discount and a commission scheme makes them one of the more popular Christmas employers. However, also one of the most competitive. View available jobs here: sales assistant.
• Tesco is also hiring this Christmas, with their festive colleague position available again. There are numerous positions available and are open to a wide range of applicants. Be warned, the deadlines of these roles vary on location.
• Marks and Spencer are a family favourite, their temporary employees also get a 20% discount, as well as a competitive rate. Available positions include sales floor customer assistant; cafe customer assistant; chef; warehouse operative.

bounce

In spite of all the negativity surrounding 2020, we still hope that you will be able to enjoy your fair share of family fun, Christmas cheer and jolly jubilations, even if Matt Hancock is constantly warning us that "Christmas won't be normal this year."

Here at bounce, we are working around the clock to bring the very best jobs and employers to our new app. Born to help the British public bounce-back from lockdown, we want to do everything we can to help get people back to work as quickly and as effortlessly as possible.

If you are a job seeker, sign up! It is completely free of charge and you never know what opportunities you may find. Even if no jobs are available in your area, by signing up you'll be the first to know of any great new local opportunities.

Are you an Employer? Discover the most streamlined recruitment process you can possibly find, not only will we cut your recruitment costs, but we'll also solve a few hiring headaches in the process.

You can download bounce from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, alternatively, visit our website bounce-jobs.com to find out more!