If the Christmas budget is already looking a little less “ho ho ho” and a little more “how much?”, there is some good news: thousands of seasonal jobs are opening across Australia, and older workers may have more to offer employers than they realise.
Businesses are already recruiting for the Christmas and summer rush, with SEEK currently listing thousands of Christmas casual positions around the country. And while retail remains one of the biggest sources of festive work, the opportunities stretch well beyond standing behind a cash register while Mariah Carey plays for the 47th time that day.
Warehouses, delivery centres, airports, hospitality venues and tourism operators are among those looking for extra hands, with some seasonal positions paying as much as $49 an hour.
Australia Post alone is recruiting 3500 Christmas casuals, with jobs available in parcel and mail sorting, processing, customer service and delivery support. Amazon Australia has also announced plans to recruit 3000 seasonal workers across its fulfilment centres and delivery stations.
And for anyone who has ever fancied a career change involving a red suit and an unusually convincing beard, Santa jobs are also being advertised.
University of Southern Queensland career development expert Dr Jennifer Luke says September is when many large employers begin recruiting, giving them time to hire and train workers before the November-to-January peak.
Importantly, she says these jobs aren’t only for teenagers and university students.
Employers are often looking for people who are available, dependable, reliable and willing to learn – qualities many older Australians can demonstrate with decades of work and life experience behind them. Seasonal employers are also often prepared to provide training.
That experience doesn’t necessarily have to come from your most recent paid job, either. Volunteering at a sporting club, helping at community events, fundraising, coaching or working with local organisations can all demonstrate valuable skills such as teamwork, communication and reliability.
“Don’t call it work experience, just call it experience because anything you’ve done as a volunteer is just as valuable,” Luke said.
For retirees, semi-retirees or anyone simply looking to bolster the Christmas kitty, seasonal work can also be a relatively low-commitment way to try something different, meet people and perhaps discover a job they would like to keep doing after the tinsel comes down.
The money can be worthwhile, too. From July 1, Australia’s national minimum wage is $26.44 an hour, while the minimum casual rate for award-free adult workers is $33.05 including casual loading. Under the General Retail Industry Award, an adult Level 1 casual earns at least $34.76 an hour during ordinary hours, rising to $48.67 on Sundays and $69.53 on public holidays. Actual rates depend on the job, award and hours worked.
Luke’s advice for getting your foot in the door is refreshingly straightforward: read the advertisement carefully and tailor your application to what the employer is actually asking for.
“Don’t put fluff in it,” she said.
Instead, think of specific examples that show you are reliable, good with people, comfortable working in a team or willing to learn.
And don’t assume every Christmas job will be advertised online. Luke recommends checking local cafes, shops and businesses for “staff wanted” signs, particularly for people who would prefer something close to home.
There may even be a longer-term payoff. Employers often use the busy Christmas period to identify good workers they would like to keep on afterwards.
So if you’ve been thinking a little extra Christmas cash wouldn’t go astray, now could be the time to dust off the resume.
After all, you’ve survived enough Christmases to know how the season works. Handling a busy shop floor might be considerably easier than organising lunch for 17 relatives who all have different dietary requirements.
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