A side job for all seasons
Creative ways to make an extra buck after the holidays
IT’S Christmas, which means seasonal work has dried up, and your bank account is drained. “After the holiday hustle, many seasonal gigs seem to fade away, leaving job seekers uncertain,” said Qasim Hussain, president of Let’s Tango, a job search app.
The good news is that actually “January and February are brimming with opportunities for those who know where to look and how to adapt,” said Hussain. In fact, he believes that the clean slate of a new year holds “untapped potential” for those savvy enough to pursue more unconventional sideline careers.
Ahead, creative ways to land seasonal gigs over the coming months.
Take down decorations
“People enjoy the act of putting up holiday lights and large inflatable creatures, but may dread the work of removing [them],” said Laci Baker, a career adviser at the University of Phoenix. That’s why Baker recommends posting on an app like Nextdoor to share your interest in removing these items for your neighbors or local businesses, for a fair fee.
Help people accomplish their resolutions
Come the new year, the glitterati is on a big kick to do all-important things like tidy up their closets and clean out their junk drawer.
“People make a lot of resolutions as the new year begins,” said Baker, noting that getting organized is one popular objective. To peddle your organizational skills, sign up with Handy or try enrolling as a Tasker on Taskrabbit.
If you’re a fitness or yoga instructor, offer your services to those looking to get in shape. Or, if you have a hobby you’re passionate about, like playing an instrument or knitting, you can teach new learners.
Offer handyman services
“Small house repairs or improvements can pop up after the first month of snow, ice or wind in winter,” said Baker, who sends interested helpers to Angi or Taskrabbit to find people who need help with projects like branch removal, reattaching porch handrails and taking apart tables to facilitate disposal.
“If you’re looking for something more physical, consider snow removal,” suggested Matthew Warzel, president of resume writing firm MJW Careers, LLC. “Many people need help shoveling their driveways and sidewalks during the winter months. You can advertise your services on social media or use apps like Nextdoor to find clients in your area,” he said.
You can also assist people with moving by becoming a helper on Dolly. “You could go oldschool by sharing a flier at a coffee shop or go modern and post on a neighborhood app,” said Baker. “Let word of mouth keep the momentum going.”
Staff events and seasonal operations
Amanda Webster, chief operating officer of Fund and Grow, a national lending program and financial consulting firm based in Tampa, Fla., said event staffing is a high-demand seasonal job opportunity in January and February at ice skating rinks, seasonal festivals and more.
“During winter, demand often increases for roles such as event coordinators, security personnel and ticket sellers,” said Webster, who suggested checking out agencies such as Julia Valler, Premier Staff and NYE Staffing.
Webster recommends keeping an eye on the websites and social media pages of popular event venues in NYC, such as Bryant Park Winter Village or Central Park’s ice skating rinks, as they often post job openings for seasonal positions.
“When applying, emphasize your organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to work in fast-paced environments,” said Webster. “Event coordinators and staff often need to handle logistics, coordinate vendors, and ensure a smooth event experience for attendees.”
You can also scout out the event-listing platforms Eventbrite and Meetup for winter events in the tristate area. Some event organizers on these sites post job opportunities for event staff or coordinators in the event descriptions, said Webster.
“Remember that while these gigs may not always lead to full-time positions, they can be a fun and flexible way to earn extra income during January and February, especially in NYC,” she added.
Head to a tourist haven
“So many roles have a cycle or season, so the tapering of one busy season may be the rise of another,” said Tiffinee Swanson, a leadership and career coach at Korn Ferry in Rochester, Minn.
During January and February, hospitality opportunities abound as travelers flock to ski towns or snowbird in warm-weather destinations. Swanson points job seekers to Cool Works, where you can find winter seasonal work in both cold and warm locales.
“Other seasons include tax season, and spring break season, especially for seasonal airline workers,” added Swanson.
Assist and organize
Join platforms like Upwork and Fiverr to try your skills as a virtual assistant, said Hussain. In January, many seek help in kicking off the new year on a more productive note, so it’s a good time to offer assistance to entrepreneurs and professionals.
Expect to do tasks like managing schedules and emails, arranging travel and ordering supplies. “The beauty of virtual gigs is that they are not bound by geographical constraints, providing a flexible option for those in and around NYC,” said Hussain.
Head to LinkedIn
You might think of LinkedIn as a platform solely for full-time employment, but Baker said that general job searching via LinkedIn works for gig economy-based jobs too. Baker suggests using terms like “gig work” in the search terms.
People also search for services ranging from virtual assisting to graphic design on LinkedIn’s Services Marketplace, and you can enroll as a services provider in your areas of expertise.