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What are the top holiday jobs for students in Germany?

The Local Germany
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What are the top holiday jobs for students in Germany?
A student working in an office over Christmas. Photo: DPA

The Christmas holidays offer students many flexible job opportunities in industries which can help to sharpen transferrable skills. Here's where - and how - to apply.

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Classes are wrapping up, revision is done and you’ve finished up the last of your exams for the year!

READ ALSO: Working in German over the festive period: What you need to know about the rules

Tempting as it is to kick back and binge on all the available Netflix boxsets, you might be thinking that this is a good time to bank a little extra income.

Seasonal jobs are ideal for gaining initial experience in the world of work and a nice boost to your bank account for the coming year!

It's not hard to find Christmastime work in Germany, usually minus the holiday sweater. Photo: DPA

Future employers always appreciate students taking on seasonal work, as it shows a willingness to get stuck in and gain some more experience. It is also a great chance to hone social skills such as manners, punctuality and customer service; all things that are useful for future applications!

What kinds of seasonal jobs should students look for?

The Christmas holidays and the build-up to them offer students many flexible job opportunities in industries which can help to sharpen your transferrable skills. Here are some popular seasonal options for students:

Bar and restaurant staff. Christmas work parties; friends and family getting together to celebrate; and tourists visiting the famed German Weihnachtsmärkte (Christmas markets).

December is a busy time for the gastronomy industry! Students can often easily pick up hours in bars, cafes and restaurants seeking to cope with their numbers and increased number of guests. Tips are generally quite good as people are feeling more generous during the festive season.

Events and catering. Bars and restaurants are great, but don’t forget to check out catering and event companies too. At this time of year, there are big Christmas dinners, balls and company events so there’s generally a solid demand for work in event and catering companies. 

Whether you assist with logistics, set-up or hosting on the day, there are many opportunities for students. Big recruitment websites like Indeed will have plenty of offers, but why not check out other specialised websites such as HotelCareer or Apetito Catering?

Photo: DPA

Courier/delivery worker. More and more people opt to do their Christmas shopping or order food online because they don’t fancy facing the chilly winter winds. The result being delivery drivers certainly have no shortage of work at this time of year. Alternatively, there are also general roles available in warehouses and the sorting rooms of post offices.

Check out companies such as Lieferando, DHL, DPD and Hermes, or even enquire with local restaurants whether they are in need of extra delivery drivers. Alternatively, there are also generally roles available in warehouses, particularly Amazon, and the sorting rooms of post offices.

Pet-sitting. Those with experience of caring for pets should consider pet-sitting during the holidays. There are lots of mobile apps like Rover and Pawshake in additional to lots of Facebook groups for various cities that you can join and advertise your services.

READ ALSO: Everything you need to know about having a pet in Germany

This can be a fun and easy way to earn some extra pocket money while helping owners who are away during the holidays and unable to take their furry friend with them.

Retail. A holiday season staple. Retail stores often take on extra staff to cope over the Christmas holidays, but it’s worth getting your application in early as they normally start taking on staff in November.

If you’re interested in working on the shop floor, a reasonable command of German is necessary to give the customer service needed, but back-office roles may be more flexible.

Malls like this one in Erfurt are busy places over the holidays. Photo: DPA

Customer Service. Gift giving is a wonderful thing, but invariably there is always the odd gift that doesn’t quite hit the mark, or the receiver isn’t sure how to use it. To tackle the increased demand on their services, many companies try to boost the availability of their customer service support. 

Whether it’s via telephone, webchat or answering emails, getting some customer service skills under your belt will serve any student well for future employment.

If multi-lingual support can be provided, even better. Websites such as Studitemps are great for students looking to pick up work or even just shifts in areas like customer service and promotion.

Every experience counts!

Don’t forget, every job, no matter how long or short, is also a fabulous networking opportunity. Not only can you make new friends outside of your college, but you can connect with colleagues and managers who may be able to assist you in finding more work in the future!

Don’t forget to add this experience to both your CV and LinkedIn profile too. Employers value people who show a drive to work and the proactiveness of taking on a job during semesters.

READ ALSO: How to reach out to German employers on LinkedIn or Xing

By Catherine Flynn, Student Services Manager at Berlin School of Business and Innovation (BSBI)

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