What Is Seasonal Work and How to Find the Best One?
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What Is Seasonal Work and How to Find the Best One?

Published Date: 01/27/2025 | Last Update: 02/02/2025 | Written By : Editorial Team
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Highlights

  1. Seasonal work offers temporary retail, insurance, finance, hospitality, and healthcare roles during peak times.
  2. Job types vary, from IT professionals and HR administrators to customer service representatives and warehouse workers.
  3. Start your seasonal job search early on platforms like Yulys or freelance sites, tailoring searches to your skills.
  4. Customize resumes for seasonal roles, emphasize customer service skills, and show flexibility in work availability.
  5. Freelance platforms provide opportunities for seasonal jobs in the IT, design, accounting, and marketing fields.

Are you looking for a job that fits a specific time of the year? Seasonal work is what you need! These short-term jobs are tied to busy periods like holidays, summer vacations, or harvest seasons. They’re a great way to earn extra cash, gain experience, and maybe even explore a new industry. But you might ask yourself: “How do I do seasonal work?”.

So, in this blog, we’ll break down what seasonal work is, why it’s worth considering, and how to find the best opportunities out there.

What Is Seasonal Work?

Seasonal work is temporary jobs that happen simultaneously each year and last from a few weeks to a few months. Companies with busy seasons hire extra workers to handle the demand during these peak times. Seasonal work is often tied to shopping trends or weather changes. 

For instance, snowplow companies need drivers in the winter, while lifeguards are only required at pools in summer.

Industries That Commonly Have Seasonal Jobs

There are more types of seasonal jobs than you might expect. While jobs like retail sales associates, restaurant staff, or ski lift operators are common examples, they’re just a small part of the seasonal job market.


Seasonal retail jobs go beyond in-store sales roles. Many behind-the-scenes positions also need extra help, and some are even remote. Common seasonal retail jobs include:

  1. HR Administration: Managing payroll for extra employees.
  2. Logistics Specialists: Organizing shipments and deliveries.
  3. Warehouse Workers: Handling increased inventory.
  4. Cleaning Staff: Keeping stores tidy during busy periods.
  5. IT Professionals: Fixing website or POS system issues.

Before the holiday rush, businesses often need temporary experts in website development, content strategy, social media marketing, graphic design, and email campaigns to prepare for the season.

Insurance Industry

Insurance companies hire extra customer service representatives during open enrollment periods to help people sign up for policies. They also need IT professionals to keep enrollment websites running smoothly during high traffic.

Applying for seasonal work in insurance offers great opportunities to gain industry experience and practical skills, such as answering customer calls and resolving issues.

Financial Services Industry

Tax season brings a surge in demand for temporary accounting and financial services workers. In addition to accountants, companies also hire:

  1. Customer service representatives for tax software support.
  2. IT support workers for online tax platforms.

Both in-person firms and online services seek skilled temporary employees during this busy time.

Hospitality and Service Industry

The hospitality industry often needs seasonal workers for peak times. Common roles include:

  1. Front desk staff and customer service representatives.
  2. Phone-based support specialists.
  3. IT professionals with expertise in networking.
  4. HR administrators.
  5. Social media marketing experts.

These jobs provide temporary support to ensure businesses can handle increased demand during busy seasons.

Healthcare Industry

Healthcare professionals can find seasonal opportunities in popular travel destinations. While direct patient care is in high demand, support roles are also key. Temporary positions include:

  1. Customer service representatives.
  2. Billing and finance specialists.
  3. Marketing professionals to help organizations meet goals.

How to Find Seasonal Work?

Wondering how do I do seasonal work. It’s simpler than you might think!

By following these steps, you can find the perfect seasonal job that suits your needs:

1. Know What Jobs Fit Your Skills

Before starting your search, take time to evaluate your skills, education, availability, and personality:

  1. Can you troubleshoot website issues and clearly communicate with users?
  2. Do you have experience with e-commerce or accounting systems?
  3. Are you open to working nights and weekends?

Think about your goals:

  1. Do you need to make a specific amount of money?
  2. Are you looking to learn new skills or meet new people?
  3. Do you prefer working on-site, in a specific location, or remotely?

Create a list of industries and jobs that align with your skills and goals. Focus on applying to roles that match most of your preferences.

2. Search in the Right Places

Seasonal jobs can often be found on popular job sites like Yulys. Use search terms like:

  1. Temporary work from home jobs 
  2. Seasonal summer employment
  3. Holiday Employment
  4. Part time employment opportunities

If you’re looking for a specific role, customize your search to include the job title. Setting up job alerts on these platforms ensures you’re notified of new opportunities.

For skilled roles, consider freelance platforms like Upwork. Many companies hire freelancers for seasonal or contract-based work in fields like:

  1. Development & IT
  2. Design & Creative
  3. Finance & Accounting
  4. Administrative & Customer Support
  5. Engineering & Architecture
  6. Sales & Marketing
  7. Writing & Translation

Freelance opportunities can provide flexibility while allowing you to leverage your expertise.

3. Apply Early (and Keep Applying!)

When starting seasonal work, apply weeks or months before the busy season. Many companies prefer to hire early to ensure adequate staffing.

If you don’t secure a position right away, keep applying! Unexpected demand or mid-season staff turnover often leads to last-minute opportunities. Being persistent can pay off, so stay active in your search.

By knowing your strengths, searching strategically, and applying proactively, you can increase your chances of landing a seasonal job that fits your needs and goals.

7 Tips for Seasonal Employment Job Application


Here are some seasonal job application tips that will help you stand out:

  1. Tailor Your Resume: Choose free resume templates from Yulys and highlight relevant skills and experience that align with your seasonal role. If you’ve worked in similar jobs or industries, emphasize those experiences.
  2. Be Flexible with Availability: Seasonal employers often require flexibility. In your cover letter, mention your availability and willingness to work on weekends, holidays, or irregular hours.
  3. Show Enthusiasm: Employers want to know that you’re excited about the job, even if it’s temporary. Express your eagerness to contribute and work as part of a team.
  4. Emphasize Your Work Ethic: Seasonal roles can be demanding, so demonstrate your ability to handle high-volume tasks, manage time well, and maintain a positive attitude.
  5. Highlight Customer Service Skills: Many seasonal jobs, especially in retail or hospitality, require customer interaction. If you have any experience with customer service, be sure to include that in your resume and cover letter.
  6. Prepare for Interviews: If you're selected for an interview, be ready to discuss how your skills can contribute to the role and how you can help make the season successful for the employer.
  7. Mention any Relevant Certifications or Training: If the role requires specific skills (e.g., food handling, first aid), mention any certifications you have.

Summary

Seasonal work is a great way to earn extra income, gain new skills, or explore different industries. Whether you're looking for a short-term job in retail, finance, healthcare, or hospitality, there are plenty of opportunities to fit your goals and schedule. By knowing your strengths, searching early, and staying flexible, you can find the perfect seasonal role to maximize your time and efforts.