As college students migrate home for the holidays, they can look forward to time with family and old friends, relaxation, and a break from classes. But trust me, this can get really boring really quick. Our credit counseling suggestion is to earn some extra money while you have substantial time off from school. As far as employment, the calendar works in favor of college breaks because this is when many employees take time off and employers are seeking temporary help. There are tons of holiday jobs for college students.
Check out ACCC’s list of holiday jobs for college students.
Chances are, you are leaving behind a job at school to be home and if you have not budgeted for this time off, it can be a huge hit to your wallet on top of the hit of the holidays. You could even wind up with credit card debt if you’re not careful. Consider these employment options:
- Holiday Help: While this may seem like a no-brainer, looking for a seasonal job when you get home in December can be a bit challenging because many retailers hire their holiday staff starting around Thanksgiving. However, the holidays are a crazy time for retailers and they may underestimate just how much help they will need. Retailers are looking for people with a lot of schedule flexibility, which you will have if you are not taking classes. Also, don’t forget the employee discount you will get which can be used to purchase gifts.
- Babysitting: Babysitters are in high demand during the holiday season. Parents are inundated with holiday parties, cooking, and shopping. Contact families you know in your area or have babysat for in the past. Also, consider joining a site such as SitterCity, which can connect you with families seeking babysitters in your area.
- Previous Employers: Contact your past employers in your hometown. Many supervisors are happy to hire employees they have seen success with in the past, rather than find new employees that need training during the holiday season. This is also a plus for you because you won’t have to endure training or the experience of settling into a new job.
- Odd Jobs: Look to your personal network at home of friends and family and see if they need help with any odd jobs around the house. One winter, a friend and I spent a week at my aunt’s house taking apart her Christmas tree and putting away and organizing all of her winter decorations.
- Temp Agencies: Many offices are low on staff during this time of year because of the holidays, vacations, etc. Connect with a local temp agency in your area. Keep in mind, temp jobs can be great networking opportunities for the future when you graduate.
- Restaurants , Catering Halls, and Bars: This is a great option for finding working during the holidays because these types of places see increased traffic because people are getting together more and going out. Also, hopefully you will score some great tips from those in the holiday spirit!
If you already have a job on campus and there are no limitations on your housing situation, consider heading back to school right after the holiday and working. Also, if you live in a college town or close to a college, employers in these locations are usually in desperate need of help because all of their employees (college students) are headed home for the holidays.
If you’re struggling to pay off debt, ACCC can help. Schedule a free credit counseling session with us today.
