Summer Holiday Jobs: Seasonal Work and Employment Opportunities

Jun 15, 2010
Asa Ghaffar

: The Best Summer Holiday Jobs - mmatters

Looking for a summer holiday job? Here are some of the best temporary and seasonal job opportunities for June, July and August to help pay the bills.

It isn't only students who are searching for a summer holiday job right now, many people are hoping to make some extra cash to pay the bills. Although the employment market isn't what it was, there are still plenty of seasonal summer work opportunities out there because the demand for certain services grows at this time of year. Applicants for summer holiday work are advised to apply early, especially for the more popular, specialist positions.

Outdoor Summer Holiday Job Opportunities

Fruit picking at a farm. With the exception of gathering potatoes, picking fruit is quite an enjoyable activity. There are opportunities to work overseas, but the pay tends to be low.
Gardener. Plenty of opportunities digging up weeds, planting flowers and trimming bushes at this time of year. Minimum wage stuff, unless pursued on a self-employed basis.
Paid fundraising for a charity. Charitable organizations employ fund raisers. Perfect seasonal job opportunities for friendly, outgoing individuals who are capable of signing-up people to make a monthly contribution each month to contribute via standing order.
Instructing sports. A popular position for people who have expertise, training and qualifications in various sporting activities. Ideal for sports science undergraduates.
Work as a lifeguard. The demand for strong swimmers grows exponentially at this time of year. Qualifications are normally needed, but training may be provided by employers.
Market researcher. Stop people on the high street and gather information for advertisers.
Night club sales representative. Night clubs are as desperate for new custom as anywhere else. A representative talks to people on the street and distributes leaflets to the public.
Dog walker. Place a few leaflets through doors or advertise in the local paper to generate interest. A dog walker can make up to $100 a day if prepared to walk several pets at the same time.

Indoor Seasonal Summer Work Opportunities

Bar work. Despite the fact that a number of pubs are closing down, the demand for bar staff remains strong. Plenty of weekend summer holiday work available.
Call centre advisor. Work is still available, but opportunities may be more limited due to the availability of cheap labor abroad.
Porter at a hotel. A useful opportunity for people who live near a city as hotel visitor numbers grow. Minimum wage job, but the tips are good.
Restaurant waiter. Not for the accident prone, but a good job for friendly people. Another minimum wage opportunity with decent tip potential.
Cleaner. There are always cleaning positions available. An agency may be able to help summer temporary employment.
Sales position. No matter how bad the economy is, every company wants to sell its goods and services. Those who want to make decent money should consider sales work in their seasonal job search this year.
Pet sitter. Animal lovers can make some extra cash by caring for pets at the owner's home. Pay for pet sitters isn't great, but agencies are available to help find holiday job opportunities.
Administration. People with computer skills, especially for short-term contracts, are always in demand. Normally best to go through an agency for this type of work.

Selecting the Right Summer Holiday Jobs

There is little doubt that seasonal summer work is far more difficult to find than it was a few years ago. However, the demand for summer temporary employment is matched my the demand for services in key areas of the economy. Those who have certain skills, particularly computer, language or sales, may be able to earn more than others. Others may wish to consider positions in restaurants and hotels if they want to earn extra cash from tips and gratuities. A self-employed job is a further possibility for the more daring.