6 Tips for Landing a Christmas Job

Are you currently searching for a job for the Christmas period? Tonnes of companies are hiring at the minute – so to ensure you are fully prepared, the team at JobAlert.ie have put together our top 6 tips for landing a job at Christmas!

1. Tailor Your CV for Each Role

As there is a lot of competition for a limited number of Christmas vacancies, it's paramount that your CV is tailored specifically for each job you're applying to. It will take you a few extra minutes, but it will make all the difference when the hiring manager is making their final decision on whom to call for interview.

Tailoring your CV does not mean lie about who you are and what skills you possess. It just means making your application as relevant as possible to the position you are applying for.

To tailor your CV, view the description of the job you are applying for and identify the most important requirements being requested, for example particular skills or years' of experience. Then it's just a matter of using what relevant experience and skills you have and matching it with what the employer is looking for.

Also another quick tip is to identify keywords throughout the job description used by the employer that are similar to the skills you possess. Include these carefully selected throughout your CV to show you are qualified for the available vacancy. (Why because some large companies use technology to cipher through hundreds of CVs.)

2. No experience? No problem.

Employers are looking for candidates that possess a particular set of skills to make sure they're competent enough to do the job they are hiring for.

So it's time to prove to the employer that you are up to the task.

Make a list of any activities you have successfully completed in the past that highlighted your skill set. It's very important that you list skills that are relevant to the job you are applying for.

Examples include:

• Working on a school project (Teamwork)
• Giving a presentation (Communication)
• Knowledge of computers (IT)
• Babysitting (Responsibility)
• Captain of school football team (Leadership)
• Binge watching Netflix for 12 hours straight (Strong Work Ethic)

All of these activities allow you to build a list of skills for your CV. Write down 4 – 5 skills with examples for each. Next, download our CV Template which will give you a clearer idea about how to layout your skills with examples on your CV if you have no work experience. Download the CV Template here.

If you don't have a CV yet, use the same format of the above CV template and just replace the information with your own. Now you have a CV ready for employers.

3. Contact Information

Now for the contact information you will want to include your full name, street address and city. Also, include your phone number and email address. To really put the icing on the cake include a URL to your LinkedIn profile. Oh, you don't have a LinkedIn page? Go set one up now!. It's a pain in the arse, I know, but the idea here is to give ourselves the best possible chance of landing an interview. A LinkedIn profile tells the employer that you mean business. And while you're on line doing that, make sure your Facebook settings are set to make sure that any drunken, crazy photos of you can only be seen by your friends and family not perspective employers!

Layout your contact information in the following format:

4. Include your Cover Letter

Similar to writing your CV, tailoring your cover letter for each specific position you are applying for will certainly increase the likelihood of getting an interview and landing the job. It's important in your cover letter to list your strengths and reasons for applying to the particular company. Do some research on the hiring company and learn about their goals and values. Then explain why the company's objectives are aligned with your own.

5. Flexibility and Availability

Employers who are hiring staff at Christmas are looking for potential employees who are quick learners with a strong work ethic and are available to work flexible hours. Ensure that these attributes are highlighted throughout your CV and cover letter.

Letting the employer know you're completely flexible when it comes to shift work, overtime and night shifts will give you an edge over other jobseekers who aren't, which will only increase your chances of being hired.

6. Proof read your CV

Last but not least, ensure you read and re- read your CV. Any spelling or grammar mistakes will likely disqualify you from being considered as a candidate for an available Christmas vacancy. With a number of bigger organisations now using recruitment software to process applications, mistakes in spelling may result in your CV never making it to the hands of the employer. Another tip would be to send your CV to friends and family members to review. More hands on board make light work!

TELL EVERYONE YOU KNOW THAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A JOB! PEOPLE WILL HELP, WORD OF MOUTH AND NETWORKING IS A GREAT WAY OF FINDING EMPLOYMENT ANYTIME!

That's all from us folks. The team at JobAlert.ie wishes you every success in your venture to find a Christmas job.

We have a number of Christmas job openings now available on our website. Check them out here