Make the most of the silly season.
Taking a casual job may not be on your radar for this summer, but here are five reasons you should reconsider your plans.
Casual jobs pay well – more so that than part-time positions and have only been incrementally affected by the recent penalty rate cuts.
Even if you have a day job, an after-hours role will help you fund that upcoming holiday or to pay off the credit card. With an influx of job opportunities becoming available, you’re sure to find one that’s flexible enough to fit around your schedule.
And if you are a student, summer is the time to make money without the distraction of assessments.
The skills you learn from working in retail and hospitality are highly transferable to other industries. So even if it isn’t your true calling, a casual job working in a shop or at a restaurant may be just the step you need to get to where you want.
Customer service skills, for example, are required for jobs in marketing, tourism and every job that is sales-driven or client-facing.
Of course, if you are looking towards a long-term career in retail or hospitality, there’s no better way to start than with a summer casual job. You’ll learn more in the weeks leading up to Christmas than any other period.
Retail and hospo workplaces are bustling environments where you can create friendships and build professional networks.
This time of year is particularly good for it because businesses usually recruit multiple casuals for the busy season. That means if you land a job soon, you’ll likely start with a fresh group of intakes, free from already established cliques and politics.
Also, 20 per cent of all couples married in 2016 met each other at work. This means you have greater chance to meet that someone special working over summer than whatever other silly season activity is trending on your Facebook feed.
The Christmas period can be a real burden on the wallet. And we are not just talking about eating and drinking. Flights are always more expensive at this time of year; holiday rentals are through the roof, and Uber fares will likely be surging. Work over December and early January to keep your bank balance out of the red.
If you join a company now, the chances are you’ll have arrived in time for the annual Christmas party. While they may not be as decadent as they were in the ’80s or as outlandish as shown in this film, companies are still willing to invest in a good time to celebrate Christmas.
Photography: Arianna Leggiero
