ahos77

With Halloween and Bonfire Night behind us, a new season is upon us: the Holiday Shopping Season. While some stores started sneaking in the winter holiday decorations back in August (really, guys?), now it's open season for businesses looking to lure in holiday shoppers and revelers.

What does this mean for the job seeker? A host of opportunities for you to make some extra cash!

Here are 7 holiday job ideas:

1) Work in retail - From department stores to small boutiques, employers need short term employees (often through the beginning of January) to stock items, help customers and work the cashier.

2) Work in travel and/or hospitality - Travel and tourism jump during the holidays with people visiting family or just enjoying a wintry getaway. Hotels, travel agents, tourist welcome centers and more will be hiring.

3) Work in catering - If you don't mind working late nights and weekends, check out catering companies near you. With a parade of holiday parties, caterers need extra people on hand to help prepare dishes, put out or serve food and help set up and break down.

4) Wrap gifts - To help lure shoppers, many department stores and malls offer gift-wrapping services, sometimes even for free or for a small donation to a charity. Check out the larger department stores and malls near you to see if they're hiring.

5) Become a greeter - Stores and malls alike often hire greeters to welcome potential customers and offer assistance and directions. This is a great job for the outgoing and personable.

6) Work at an outdoor ice rink - Outdoor ice rinks need people to sell and take tickets, clean the ice, sell hot cocoa (a must for any reputable ice rink, in my humble opinion), sweep the ice and more. Many areas cold enough for outdoor ice rinks already have them up and running, but it's worth checking with them anyway to see if they're still hiring. While some staffers may work until February or March, they'll likely need more short-term help to get them through the holidays.

7) Babysit - With holiday parties to attend, holiday shopping to fit in and their kids on winter break while they themselves still have to show up to the office, parents often need extra help with their children. Start letting people know now that you're available to watch their kids so they'll think to call you.