Cash in on Christmas as firms from Royal Mail to M&S bolster ranks
From Amazon, to Maks & Spencer, hundreds of retailers will be advertising over 110,000 vacancies this weekend
CHRISTMAS is coming, and Santa could find you a way back into work.
Around 250,000 temporary festive roles are up for grabs each year, with 110,000 going live this weekend.
If you are out of work, a temporary Christmas job is a great way to get back into employment, as one in five festive temps go on to land permanent work with that employer.
Even if you don’t then go permanent, festive temp work will boost your CV, brush up your work skills and give you valuable contacts and work references.
Many roles also offer flexible working and the chance to up your pay by increasing your hours. Three of the biggest Christmas employers are the ROYAL MAIL, AMAZON and MARKS & SPENCER, which each takes on a whopping 20,000 temps this year.
The Royal Mail’s Simon Barker explains: “We are looking for around 20,000 reliable and hardworking individuals to join our existing staff members.
“You will gain invaluable work experience for your CV, a reference from us when you apply for roles elsewhere, and the opportunity to earn a little extra for yourself for your own Christmas!”
Apply at
Amazon, meanwhile, is taking on 20,000 seasonal employees with a minimum wage of £10.50 an hour in London and £9.50 an hour across the rest of the UK. Search for a role at
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Marks & Spencer last year saw 2,000 temps stay on and land full-time work with the chain.
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The store giant’s retail, operations and property director Sacha Berendji said: “For those who are interested in applying, retail experience is helpful.
But what we’re really after are colleagues who are ready to be part of a hard-working team and help make every moment special for our customers.”
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'I'm now sorted for a full-time role'
KRISTINA POLIPARTOV, above, turned her temporary role sorting letters with Royal Mail into a permanent job – and she has now been promoted to deputy manager at the Jubilee Mail Centre in Hounslow, West London.
Kristina, 39, from Feltham, says: “I was a stay-at-home mum but I lost my oldest child to blood cancer in August 2010.
“I needed to work to keep busy and stop thinking about my loss. I saw the Royal Mail jobs, applied immediately and got the job.Working in a such a busy environment helped me make new friends and look to the future. Working at Christmas has a real buzz.
“You don’t need any set qualifications but it helps to be hard-working and able to cope under pressure.I was expecting another baby, so I was put on light duties sorting letters. But it helped me learn all aspects of the business.
“Being a Christmas casual gives you a good experience of working for Royal Mail so you know what the job entails. I was offered a permanent role, which I don’t think I’d have won without having the temporary experience. If you are thinking of applying, go for it.
"You have a chance to work for a good company earning extra money and making new friends as well as learning skills that could be useful in the future.”