Looking to make some extra cash while you’re on holiday? There are many types of jobs for SA students in the holidays to make extra money and prevent vacation boredom. Students are often reliant on their parents for money, meaning that incoming funds are limited. Being able to earn your own money during the holidays means extra holiday spending money and extra holiday fun! Here are some ideas to get you off the couch and into the money:
Dabble in some retail therapy
Yes, having a holiday job does mean you will have more money to throw around in the mall, but have you considered working there. Holidays are usually busy times in town as people shop for Christmas presents and holiday fare, so look around local stores for any “help wanted” signs. You can often get a cashier job without any experience and if you work at a shop you like you may even be lucky enough to get discount off their goods.
Santa’s little helper
During the December holidays there seems to be a Santa around every corner, but have you ever considered being the guy behind the beard? There are all kinds of seasonal dress-up positions available for parties and picture-taking, so harness your inner elf, reindeer, or fairy and gear up to get some extra money in the bank.
Waiter, please!
The holiday season means more dinner parties and more diners so consider getting a job in the catering industry as a waiter, waitress, or barman for a restaurant or catering company. Look online for catering companies in your area and ask restaurants if they need any extra holiday help.
Pocketing far and wide
If you have some capital to beg or borrow to get you there, consider working in Canada or the United States as a temporary seasonal worker. Ski resorts are particularly busy over this time, and often hire foreigners as extra help for ski season jobs. Although this is an expensive option, the exchange rate means that if you work hard, you can cover your costs and may even come home with some extra cash in your pocket. For more information, try agents who deal with work/travel programmes such as Camp Councillors USA (CCUSA), Chilli Adventures, or STA Travel.
Promotions
If you have the gift of the gab and have an outgoing personality, promotions are the jobs for you. Lots of businesses use promotion companies to sell their products in stores and at special events, clubs and other venues. Promotions can be days or only a few hours long and are often good money for the work you have to do.
Mom n Pops
Sometimes you don’t even have to venture very far to get some cash in hand. Ask your parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents, friends and neighbours if they need any off jobs done such as babysitting, lawn mowing, or any other services they are willing to pay you for.
Exploit your skills
Make money off what you’re good at! If you’re good at drawing, maybe you can hang around the beach front or other popular areas and charge for caricatures and portraits of holiday-makers to give them something special to remember their holiday by; if you’re deft on the decks, ask at local clubs and events companies if they need an extra DJ; and if you’re the crafty kind, try making and selling Christmas cards.
If you are looking for holiday work, the best advice is to stay observant and opportunistic. Look out for job opportunities on signboards around you, in local newspapers or on online classifieds such as Gumtree Jobs.
These are just a few of the many of jobs for SA students in the holidays. With some imagination, determination, and a dose of hard work you can take your holiday from drab to fab with a holiday job to keep the good times rolling!