IT is the most wonderful time of the year for job-seekers.
With less than four weeks to go until Christmas, more than 90,000 seasonal opportunities are still available across the UK.
Recruitment firms are working hard to fill the roles and are urging anyone unemployed, who wants to build their skillset or simply needs extra festive cash to apply.
Neil Carberry, chief exec of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation said: “Christmas is a great time to nab a new job and earn extra cash to save or splash this festive season.
“There are still thousands of vacant postings in seasonal roles in retail, hospitality and logistics. Our members are queuing up to spread the message and embrace the positivity about Christmas trading this year and take up these opportunities at the last minute.”
Among the jobs on offer are:
Darren Ainge, a director of recruitment agency The Best Connection, said: “The demand for temporary workers remains high, with employers urgently recruiting for warehouse operatives, pickers, packers and delivery drivers.
“For jobseekers, seasonal temporary work is the perfect opportunity to secure flexible shifts while also supporting businesses during this crucial trading period.”
Hiring managers are also taking on tech, data and cloud computing experts to keep data systems running over the busy shopping period.
But it’s not only shopping and leisure-related sectors hiring.
Adrian Adair, COO of recruitment firm Morson Group, explains: “The weeks leading up to Christmas are also crucial across rail and engineering, as companies ramp up for major 2025 projects.
“There’s high demand for skilled roles such as rail engineers and maintenance technicians, with infrastructure projects advancing through the winter.”
Manpower UK is seeking road gritters and staff to work at ports over the holiday.
MD Tom Buckell said: “Now is a great time of year for those looking to get back into employment.
“We’re seeing high demand for winter roles, the likes of gritters and domestic workers. Ports are opening up again and we’re back to numbers not seen since Covid as import/export speeds up.”
If you fancy a more Christmassy role, how about sprout-picking or making mince pies?
They are among various jobs on offer at Adecco and Office Angels.
Spokeswoman Kate Garbett said: “The list is long, but the key is to be willing to work hard.”
Find your local recruiter at rec.uk.com/jobseekers.
MILLY EVERATT was runner-up for Miss England 2022, before deciding to train as a trucker.
The 24-year-old is now an ambassador for Generation Logistics, a government-backed initiative that urges more women to work in the transportation of goods this festive season.
Milly, from Lincolnshire, drives 44-tonne high-tech vehicles across the country.
She said: “I have so much fun getting behind the wheel of a big truck as part of my job. I love having the freedom that comes with driving, as it takes me all around the country, and the wages are great too.
“For any women who are thinking of getting into logistics, my best advice is just to do it.
“With so many roles and training opportunities available, it’s a really exciting industry to get involved with.”
BLACK FRIDAY is the biggest shopping day of the year and retail vouchers are now the third most popular work perk.
While a salary rise and more days off remain the most popular employer giveaway, 18 per cent of staff said they would prefer gift cards or shopping vouchers as a thank-you from their company.
However, 71 per cent of people quizzed said they would spend a gift card or bonus from work on the weekly shop or back-to-school essentials.
Frank Creighton from corporate gift supplier Love2shop, which carried out the report, said: “People are still struggling to get by, which distracts them from their work and adds stress to their lives.”
SIGNING off emails with “tara” or “tata” is the nation’s most-loathed choice, a new study reveals.
Almost a third of staff reckoned the phrase was irritating, along with a quarter who dislike the standard “sent from my iPhone” at the end of a message.
Geeky goodbyes such as “May the Force be with you” annoyed 24 per cent, while the same percentage detested Toy Story’s catchphrase “To infinity and beyond”.
A further 23 per cent also disapprove of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s famous line “Hasta la vista, baby.”
Among the most popular sign-offs are “Have a great day” and a simple “Many thanks”, the survey from Currys found.
MORRISONS has vacancies for butchers, quality controllers and production operatives. Search at morrisons.jobs.
FORTY-FIVE per cent of people who have been to a work Christmas party have done something embarrassing, studies show.
And one in 11 has been disciplined for their festive antics.
So if you have messed up, how do you face your colleagues again?
Here Rob Phelps from employment platform ai-jobs.co, shares his expert advice.
1. ASSESS THE DAMAGE: Calm down and work out what happened. Was it a major mistake or a minor slip-up that can be laughed off?
Consider your audience and who saw what happened, as that could determine the severity of the situation, and how you should react.
If you are unsure what happened, check in with a co-worker who can give you an honest perspective.
2. KEEP IT QUIET BUT DON’T HIDE: Pay attention to how your co-workers treat you when you return to work and gauge the impact of what happened – are they acting normal, or do you sense some awkwardness?
The more you bring up the incident, the more memorable it becomes to your colleagues, so keep a low profile and avoid drawing attention to yourself. This shows that you recognise your mistake.
3. APOLOGISE, STRATEGICALLY: If your behaviour did cross the line, say sorry as soon as possible, sincerely and directly, to anyone involved. Take responsibility for your actions and acknowledge your mistakes, without making excuses.
4. SITUATION MORE SERIOUS? If your behaviour had professional consequences, such as someone making a formal complaint, talk to HR, who will be able to offer guidance and help you navigate the situation.
5. TRY NOT TO DWELL ON IT: Once you’ve made your apologies and taken steps to rectify what happened, let it go. Everyone makes mistakes, and the key is to handle them gracefully, turning a potential disaster into a learning opportunity.
MAGNET is recruiting kitchen sales designers and warehouse staff. See careers.nobia.com/jobs.
