How to get a Christmas casual job

Sam Marsh19/10/2020

Tips from a career consultant to help you get a job for the holidays.

Giving up your holidays to work might not sound appealing however now is the perfect time for young people to start job hunting for Christmas casual positions.

The State Government recently announced the JobMaker Hiring Credit which means some businesses, including retailers, will be eligible to receive $200 a week if they hire a person aged 16-29.

The incentive is expected to create 450,000 jobs in an aim to increase unemployment during the recession.

Career Consultant Karen Bremner, from Katie Roberts Career Consulting, has more than 10 years’ experience in human resources and postgraduate career qualifications and said it was a very competitive market for students so they should think about actively building on their employability.

“Make yourself more employable for the future by developing on skills like teamwork, communication, showing initiative and hard work,” Ms Bremner said.

“For any casual role, employers will want someone who can work well in a team, learn new skills quickly, be flexible and take shifts when they’re needed.”

Here are some of Ms Bremner’s top tips for getting a job these holidays:

Update your resume

Resumes do not need to show fancy formats, cool graphics or photos (unless you are applying for a creative job, or modelling gig). Most people think of their resume as a summary of “them”, however it is a sales pitch about the job. It shows an employer what skills, strengths or experience you have that make you a good fit for the specific job they are filling. Keep your resume up-to-date and directly relevant to the job. Your resume should be easy to scan quickly as most recruiters are time poor. Make it clear and concise with easy-to-read font, good spacing around the writing and either easy-to-digest bullet points or shorter blocks of text. Make sure there are no typos.

Create a LinkedIn profile

LinkedIn is very much a part of the career and recruitment landscape these days therefore it can be helpful for students who are looking to build a career to create a profile. They can use it to research different jobs, explore a variety of career pathways, learn what skills are required for jobs they are interested in, network with potential future employees or employers, participate in online discussions, share articles to be visible in the market.

Extend your search

Most people think of online job boards when they are looking for work but more than 30% of jobs are never advertised. The 2019 Survey of Employer’s Recruitment Experiences showed that 31% of employers find their staff by word of mouth so don’t forget to ask around to increase your chances. Ask your friends, family, neighbours and local employers to see if they are hiring or know anyone who is.

Be aware of what you share on social media

Students need to be aware of their digital footprint because recruiters do check this. Things that can get you in trouble (and cost you a job) include abusive language, sharing controversial or extreme opinions or posting inappropriate photos. Google yourself to see what comes up and then set all your profiles to private. Before you post anything online ask yourself if you would share this with your grandparents.

Prepare for the interview

Be prepared for different interview formats as they can be run as a group, by telephone, over video or in person. Check what kind of interview you are attending and research that format.

If you want to make a good impression then behave like a model employee, this includes:

Being on time
Making sure you are clean and well-groomed
Being friendly
Making good eye contact
Smiling and being positive about the job
Showing you are professional by turning off your phone and paying attention

The information in this article has been prepared for general information purposes only and is not intended as legal advice or specific advice to any particular person. Any advice contained in the document is general advice, not intended as legal advice or professional advice and does not take into account any person’s particular circumstances. Before acting on anything based on this advice you should consider its appropriateness to you, having regard to your objectives and needs.