Finding ways to supplement your income during the winter months can help you cover holiday bills, eliminate debt, and build your finances so you can meet your future goals. Seasonal jobs are a great way to increase your income—especially if your primary workplace cuts back on hours due to inclement weather or predictable dips in demand.
Whether you're already working or want to pick up a few hours to supplement your current income, there are several seasonal jobs that may be able to help. What should you consider when looking for a seasonal job this winter? What are some of the best winter jobs to take on during the colder months of the year?
Let’s talk about winter season jobs!
Top Considerations for Seasonal Jobs
Before taking on seasonal work, it’s important to keep a few key things in mind. These considerations can help you keep your expectations for your seasonal work realistic.
Seasonal Work Is Usually Short-Term
It's important to remember that seasonal work is temporary. Seasonal job offers tend to come from organizations that are experiencing a spike in demand or a labour shortage. When demand evens out or their workforce grows again, these organizations will usually release their seasonal workers.
Of course, this is not the case for self-employment seasonal jobs. However, being self-employed also means learning about how to handle taxes for your new seasonal side hustle.
Seasonal Jobs May Require Some Schedule Flexibility
When applying for a seasonal job, you will need to provide your availability. Chances are good that a seasonal employment opportunity may offer non-standard hours. For example, instead of working 9-5, you might be asked to cover the “third shift” that runs late at night—such as 10:00 pm to 7:00 am or later.
Many employers offer workers who are willing to work night shifts a premium salary or hourly bonus above their base pay. Being willing to work the night shift can also be a good way to turn a seasonal job into a longer-term employment opportunity, as some employers may want to keep a good night shift worker even after their busy season is over.
Of course, when considering taking on night shift work, it’s important to balance the potential income against what you can realistically manage. Taking on a winter job that has you working until 7:00 am when you have to then report to another job at 9:00 am (or go to school) several days in a row every week can take a toll on your health as it makes it harder to find enough time to rest and perform self-care.
Create Connections When You Can
As the old cliché goes: “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” Interpersonal connections and relationships can give you a leg up on other job seekers when you’re looking for employment in the future. So, it’s often a good idea to build connections with your coworkers at your seasonal job when you can.
By creating a favourable impression on managers and other staff, you can increase your chances of extending your employment past the end of the busy winter season—or getting invited back to the job next year. Between hiring someone they don’t know and someone who has proven to be a good worker, most employers will choose the latter if they can.
7 Part-Time Winter Jobs to Consider
So, what kinds of jobs would be good to take on during the winter season? Here are our top seven budget boosters.
1. Package Handler
Online shopping has become increasingly common, which means package handlers will continue to be in high demand, even after the holidays! Package handling is a physical, fast-paced job, involving continual lifting of packages that could weigh as much as 35 pounds. Many positions expect about 20 hours of availability per week. If you can meet these conditions, this could be a great way to make some extra seasonal loot and keep your waistline in check throughout the winter season.
2. Liquor Stores
Even as many people choose to participate in "Dry January", demand for liquor remains steady through the winter—meaning consistent demand for liquor stores. These stores are often looking for extra help, and their wages aren't too shabby either.
If you live in Ontario, you'll want to look for part-time jobs at the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO).
3. Retail Work
Cha-ching! There really isn’t such a thing as an “off-season” for retail work. After all, people need their groceries, toiletries, and other daily necessities. But if ringing up cash registers isn’t your thing, there are plenty of other positions, including customer service, stocking shelves, merchandising, ordering, baking, candy-making, gift wrapping, and more.
Check popular sites such as Indeed or Retail.ca for opportunities. Retail.ca is a member of the Jobs.ca network of specialized Canadian websites, which posts hundreds of job offers across the country.
4. Security
An increase in store traffic often calls for an increase in store security. Most positions do not require experience in the law enforcement field, although completion of a brief corporate training class may be necessary, depending on the organization. If you’re searching for security guard positions online with little luck, you may want to try “Seasonal Asset Protection Security Guard” as this seems to be the job title du jour!
5. Winter Resort Work
Winter time brings winter sports, and there is no shortage of winter resorts, hotels, ski clubs and spas across Canada catering to locals and out-of-towners. Whether working lift operations, food and beverage services, guest services, maintenance, wait staff, or even crew patrol, the cold months can bring big paychecks. Many places don’t advertise positions, so it’s best to find those near you and search directly within their site for opportunities.
6. Snow Removal
While driving a plow requires licensing and insurance, there are still opportunities to do some good old-fashioned shoveling! Rather than compete with the kids looking for an extra buck, find a company hiring seasonal workers online.
7. Call Center Work
Want to work indoors? A call center job may be a good fit! Call centers are frequently looking for additional workers regardless of the season. However, this is because call centers have an incredibly high rate of turnover. This high turnover rate is indicative of the potential stress of the job or other issues. So, it’s important to research a call center before you start working for one!
If you’re thinking about taking on work at a call center, be sure to find out what kinds of organizations the call center works for—some call centers are dedicated to working with a single business while others might contract out their services to a wide range of businesses.
Do they focus on tech support? Customer service? Direct sales? It’s important to ask about the kind of work they do so you can know what to expect on the job if you’re hired.
The winter months can take a toll on us financially, often leaving us with a holiday hangover. If you want to spend a bit more this season without breaking your budget, consider picking up one of these part-time seasonal jobs. Do you have another way to earn money this winter? Let us know in the comments below!
