Your experience with seasonal jobs for extra money? (IE for holidays)

[DaLittle B]

My current bed buddy,she is going on a second interview for today for a part time seasonal "extra help" job over the holidays job.A few of the people she has told talked about some horrible experiences with these type of jobs,and she is having second thoughts (<--- 2nd thoughts,about the 2nd interview!  )

Some people have talked about they were treated,or the crap they dumped on them because they were just temporary holiday help.Even people who didn't have "bad" experiences say little bit of money really wasn't worth the time off lost,being worn out,etc,etc. 

I've worked many temp,short term jobs before,but not specific Holiday/Christmas type retail jobs.I figured it was because of where I'm out,it's just they treat most of their employees like shit,not really just because you were holiday help.


Have you ever worked a "holiday extra help" job? Did you feel they use you for all the shit parts of the job? Did you find the little extra money worth the effort?

[CF DolFan]

I haven't done it in many years but I did a stint at Disney in High School for the holidays and then worked at UPS for the holidays a few years later. They were bottom feeder jobs but I kind of expected it.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

Like with everything it varies from place to place.  

My advice is if she isn’t giving up another job to take this one, try it out if it sucks -quit.  She doesn’t need to list it on her resume because there is no gap in employment history.  

A friend of mine quit a temp holiday last year cause she wanted xmas eve off and they wouldn’t give it to her off.  Her logic hey they were going to lay me off a few days later anyway.    She didn’t go back there for months thinking everybody hated her, but she went in two weeks ago because they had something on sale at a really great price. She hoped to get in and out quickly without being recognized.  Manager spotted her and asked her if she wanted to work again this year.  She was shocked by the offer, but the manager explained, “if I fired everyone who missed a shift i wouldn’t have any employees”. She is working there again this year and won’t be scheduled for xmas eve.

[Phishfan]

Good topic. I was considering one this year as I have never done it before. I would expect that it would be the lowest of the lows position though.

[DaLittle B]

When she first told me Saturday night,I assumed it was her way of giving me the brush off,nicely.When I started talking to her about why (assuming for her kid's christmas present type thing) I found out she's saving money for a newer car.She wants either buy it outright,or have big enough down payment to cover most of the cost,(lower payments+less time paying it off).She said we'll have nooners! 

She wanted to avoid Bass pro shop (It's where she most of the horror stories she's heard about),or large department store,so she doesn't get thrown someplace she knows nothing about,or asked where stuff is.She answers the phone/appointment setter for HVAC company,and works weekdays 6am-3pm,so nothing that closes at midnight every night.She was thinking smaller store in the mall,(they close at 9.pm here most nights.).

[Sunstroke]

I haven't done it in many years but I did a stint at Disney in High School for the holidays and then worked at UPS for the holidays a few years later. They were bottom feeder jobs but I kind of expected it.

I took a part-time seasonal job at UPS once, and enjoyed it so much that I kept working there after the season was over.

I sometimes take on extra writing jobs during the holiday season, but not sure if I am going to this year.

[CF DolFan]

I took a part-time seasonal job at UPS once, and enjoyed it so much that I kept working there after the season was over.

I might have stayed as well but that wasn't an option at the time ... although I did think of applying later on.

[BuccaneerBrad]

I drive for Uber/Lyft around the Busch Gardens area and airport as that's where the pickups are.  I make pretty good money doing it.  I put in about 20-25 hours a week and pick up and extra $250-$400 per week