The best Christmas jobs for students who want to make the most out of the holidays

As Christmas approaches, cheesy Christmas songs play, and the smell of pine, peppermint, orange, clove, ginger, and cinnamon fills the air. 

Many international students will return home to celebrate the festive holidays with their families, while others stay in their host countries, enjoying the perks of being abroad by exploring Christmas markets, winter festivals, or ice rinks.

However, trips to such places may be costly, so a way to enjoy the festive seasons without letting your bank account suffer is to take up jobs for Christmas.

Is it really worth working during Christmas?

The main con of taking up jobs during Christmas is that it may lead to burnout, as the season’s busy nature often means a lot of work to be done.

Retail or shipping companies get especially busy as people shop for Christmas presents throughout the month, whether it be online or offline.

It’s so busy that companies like Amazon, Aldi, and Sainsbury plan on hiring thousands of extra seasonal workers to work across its warehouses and stores.

Bain & Company, a global management consulting firm, predicts that retail sales for 2024 will grow by 3% over the holidays, while e-commerce sales are expected to rise by 9.5%.

UPS is expecting to encounter “the highest volume ever in our network” on December 18, 2024, according to Supply Chain Dive.

So, while you may have good intentions or want to use your holidays well, it’s valid to take time off, focus on yourself or your family, and start the new year well-rested and refreshed, especially if you’re a student entering your final year.

Another downside of applying for Christmas-related work is that the positions are only for a short period.

This means you’ll have to hit the ground running with most of these jobs, and they often only last until the new year, which won’t give you much downtime before school begins again. 

However, there are definitely benefits to taking up these jobs for Christmas.

If you’re working during the Christmas break, there’s a possibility for you to make fast money if you’re working in restaurants, especially for countries that have a tipping culture, such as the US, Canada, and Colombia.

This Reddit user agrees, “I’ve never worked a Thanksgiving, but I made a lot of money on Christmas Eve. A lot of people made comments like ‘thank you so much for being here on this day’, and they were appreciative that we were there to serve their family on a holiday. Plus, people often get into the giving spirit.”

In 2023, Bankrate found that 15% of US adults planned to increase how much they tipped during the holiday season compared to the previous year.

Another upside of taking up jobs for Christmas is that you can add this to your resume. Christmas festivals and events are often fast-paced; companies that you’ll be applying for in the future may favour this.

The requirements to secure these jobs for Christmas

The best part about Christmas jobs is that you don’t necessarily need to be in the country to apply. For example, you can be studying in the UK and apply for Christmas job postings in the US.

However, to work seasonal jobs abroad, you will need a seasonal work visa.

In the US, a seasonal work visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows foreign nationals to work temporarily or seasonally. This is done through the H-2B visa, which is for non-agricultural workers. Applicants must have the necessary skills, training, or experience for the job they’re applying for.

If you’re an international student in New Zealand, you can apply for the Supplementary Seasonal Employment (SSE) Work Visa to work jobs for Christmas. To be eligible for the visa, you must hold a student visa, be 18 and over, and genuinely intend to work for an eligible employer.

Want to work in the country with the best Christmas markets? Lucky for you, Germany is offering visas for seasonal work; however, if you’re from a third country, a country that is not a member of the European Union (EU) or the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), you are not eligible. 

Spain, Belgium, Greece, the UK, and Japan are some other countries offering seasonal work visas for those looking to work part-time abroad for the Christmas break. 

10 jobs for Christmas you can take a look at:

1. Bartender or server

Pay range: US$18 to US$33 per hour

Bartending or serving are typical part-time jobs for Christmas, as there is a high demand for them during the festive holidays.

As a bartender or server, you must provide exceptional customer service by taking orders and serving. If you have no experience as a server, don’t worry — you won’t often need prior experience as you’ll be able to learn it on the job. 

However, having strong communication skills, the ability to adapt to different work settings, basic math skills, and a willingness to learn about the food industry is a must. Certain establishments may require you to hold a bartending certification or license.

2. Christmas bell ringer

Pay range: US$13 per hour

The job scope is in the name itself, but it also goes beyond that. You’ll be responsible for ringing bells while collecting donations and ensuring the Kettle, the red bucket used to collect funds, is never left unattended.

While that may sound easy, this job can be physically demanding.

Depending on your assigned location, you will also be standing for long hours and possibly out in the cold, so you must be prepared. You are expected to greet the public courteously and be friendly to encourage donations.

It’s essential to note that Christmas bell ringer jobs are often under The Salvation Army, a faith-based organisation that provides social services to people in need.

3. Christmas Elf or Santa’s Helper

Pay range: US$15 to US$25 per hour

While you may not be working for Santa himself, you’ll work alongside companies to help transform common spaces into magical-looking spaces for the Christmas holidays.

You’ll decorate interiors and set up Christmas trees, lights, and other festive decorations as part of your job. This work may have odd hours as you’ll need to work during times when the spaces have little to no human traffic, so expect early morning or late night shifts. 

4. Ticketing assistant

Pay range: Not listed

This is one of the few jobs for Christmas that will require you to interact with customers and individuals from all levels of an organisation.

You’ll be responsible for processing, distributing, and accounting for tickets, collecting and analysing inventory data, managing customer service requests, and provisioning customers with information in response to their needs and questions.

Skills or experiences needed for this job are strong communication skills, problem-solving skills, customer service experience, and organisational skills.

5. Christmas light show employee

Pay range: US$18 to US$20 per hour

Also known as Christmas light installers, Christmas light show employees will work to install Christmas lighting for offices, malls, or public spaces.

The job scope includes safely installing Christmas lights and decorations on buildings and trees and properly handling electrical components, cords, and outlets to ensure compliance with safety standards and minimise fire risks.

No lighting experience is required; however, one to two years of general labour, landscaping, window cleaning, or ladder work is recommended. You should also be confident with working heights, as you will often be on roofs and ladders up to 40 feet.

6. Christmas tree salesperson

Pay range: US$15 to US$22 per hour or US$500 to US$700 per week

Think of helping people choose the perfect Christmas tree for their home; this is precisely what this job is.

For this seasonal job, you must direct customers to the needed products, build customer confidence by supplying product knowledge, write sales orders, stock merchandise, and organise the shop.

If you’re someone who loves the outdoors and gets their hands dirty, this is the job for you. However, you’ll need to know that this job may require you to work in cold climates and carry heavy items.

7. Ice skating attendant

Pay range: Not listed

Imagine ice skating in a place filled with pretty Christmas lights and the smell of hot chocolate and cinnamon buns. Well, if you choose to become an ice skating attendant as one of your jobs for Christmas, you’ll be doing just that while getting paid.

As an ice skating attendant, you will be responsible for customers’ safety on and off the ice, monitoring the state of the ice, patrolling the ice rink, and communicating with customers.

You’ll need to have basic knowledge of ice skating, working outdoors in cold weather, and be willing to work all day long. 

8. Mascot character performer

Pay range: Not listed

Think Santa Claus, the Grinch, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, and Coca-Cola’s Polar Bear. Mascot character performers are one of the essential jobs for Christmas that help bring seasonal cheer. 

As a mascot character performer, you’ll be expected to perform indoors and outdoors in costumes weighing up to 15 and 20 lbs for extended periods. You must also navigate through hot, dark, and confined environments while standing, kneeling, walking, and performing in noisy and crowded places.

This is yet another Christmas job that requires much physical effort and may push you to your limits.

9. Performer (musicians, dancers, or actors)

Pay range: US$15 per hour

Alongside mascot character performers, you’ll have musicians, dancers, interactive actors, and singers performing during Christmas parades or festivals to bring forth the Christmas spirit.

You’ll perform at stage shows, parades, meet-and-greets, and special events. Part of the job involves making audiences happy by delivering interactive experiences and helping them create lifelong memories. 

An added benefit is that you’ll be able to interact with people from all ages and backgrounds when working as a performer for Christmas.

10. Casual support worker

Pay range: US$13.81 to US$17.19 per hour (NZ$23.38 to NZ$29.10)

Students living abroad aren’t the only people who may feel alone during Christmas; those in nursing homes or rehabilitation centres may feel that way, too.

Working as a casual support worker during the Christmas break can help those in need feel like they are not alone for the holidays. Responsibilities can vary from meal preparation, attending community outings, or helping with personal care.