6 Cool Winter Seasonal Jobs for College Students

Whether you’re a college student or a first-time job seeker, seasonal work can be a great way to earn some extra cash during the holiday season. Seasonal jobs typically last between the months of December and February, with some starting as early as November. Companies hire seasonal help in order to compensate for holiday shoppers, and more times than not you won’t be required to have any prior experience. Here are some great, festive seasonal jobs to consider this winter.

Waitstaff

Kicking off our list is a job that might be somewhat infamous, depending on who you ask. Yes friends, working on the waitstaff at a restaurant can be tough, but the earning potential is actually quite high. Waitstaff is responsible for taking customers’ orders, ensuring their satisfaction, memorizing meal and drink specials, and bussing tables, among other things. The downside is you may find yourself dealing with difficult customers in a fast-paced environment.

Waitstaff are rarely required to possess much more than a high school diploma, making it the perfect job for college students who are looking to earn some extra cash. The average hourly pay for waitstaff is around $15.30, but if you’ve got a good personality and you’re patient, you could make some great tips, especially during the holiday season when people are feeling a bit more generous.

Ski Instructor

If you’re an expert with skiing or snowboarding, you might be able to use your skills to land a nice seasonal job. In order to become a ski or snowboard instructor, you’ll likely have to go through a series of certifications—after all, the overall well-being of your students is in your hands.

The ideal candidate for this job is someone with strong interpersonal skills and a passion for teaching others. As a ski or snowboard instructor, you can expect to make anywhere between $18 to $70 an hour, depending on factors such as skill and location. Along with this, instructors often enjoy other benefits such as discounts or free passes, which is quite “rad” as they say.

Gift Wrapper

Are you particularly skilled at wrapping presents? Do you have a keen eye for matching colors and different types of ribbons? If so, a seasonal job as a gift wrapper might be a good fit for you. This is a relatively low-pressure role that often works closely with cashiers in department stores and shopping malls.

This is another one of those jobs where you don’t really need to have any prior experience, and it’s a great fit for those who are enthusiastic about the holidays. Keep in mind that you’ll have at least some contact with customers, and they may ask for your advice when choosing wrapping papers and other decorations. As a gift wrapper, you’ll be making anywhere between $12 and $20 an hour.

Ski Patrol

This job title might conjure up images of a comedy film straight from the 1980s, but working on the ski patrol is no laughing matter. The ski patrol is responsible for teaching safety courses, and ensuring that ski slopes are safe and clear of hazards. They also administer first aid treatment to injured skiers, and in more serious cases, the ski patrol is responsible for transporting patients to the hospital.

Members of the ski patrol often possess NSP (National Ski Patrol), EMT (Emergency Medical Technician), or OEC (Outdoor Medical Care) certifications. In addition to this, ski patrollers must be able to demonstrate excellent skiing ability. As a ski patroller, you can expect to make between $13.00 and $22.00 an hour.

Pet Sitter

If you love animals and prefer to work for yourself, you could try your hand at pet sitting. The reason why this job makes the list is because lots of people travel during the holiday season, and they often have to leave their pets at home. If you’re feeling particularly industrious, you could make your own flyers advertising your pet sitting business and hang them around campus.

As a pet sitter, you’ll be walking dogs, providing food and water for all kinds of pets, cleaning litter boxes, and of course, having a whole lot of fun playing games with our wild friends. The average pet sitter charges around $20-$30 a day depending on factors such as location and the type of pet, or whether they’re required to stay overnight.

Santa Claus

That’s right—it’s not the holiday season without seeing Santa Claus at the mall. This job isn’t for everyone, as you’ll be dealing with large crowds, screaming children, and lots of crazy holiday gift demands such as a new rocket ship or a pet dinosaur. Of course, it’s not up to you, the fake Santa, to fulfill these wishes, but you’re going to have to be believable if you want to pull it off.

This seasonal job is a good opportunity for those who want to get into acting or who enjoy taking drama classes. It’s worth mentioning that you don’t have to be Santa Claus himself, since there are plenty of other holiday characters to play. In this role you can expect to make anywhere between $16 to $36 an hour, depending on your location and the character you’re playing.

College students and first time-job seekers may view seasonal work as a sort of “practice mode.” Sure, you’ll make some extra money, but you’ll also learn valuable lessons such as how to balance your time between work and school, and how to deal with your finances. The temporary nature of seasonal work also means the stakes won’t be as high, so you won’t find yourself drowning in stress either.