If you’re striking out in your search for a full-time job, consider part-time, temporary employment as a seasonal or holiday worker. College students returning for their winter breaks and full-time employees looking to shore up some savings can find ample seasonal opportunities as well.

Temporary jobs are great for more than just temporary cash. They give people the opportunity to explore a different job, career or industry without requiring a long-term commitment. Temporary jobs can give people the experience they need in a field in order to get a more advanced position in their full-time career. They can also be fun. You may enjoy your seasonal job and want to extend your employment to a full-time, year-round position. If that’s the case, it’s essential to have your game face on every day you go to work.

The following industries offer ample employment during the months of November, December and into January, and most companies are hiring now.

Retail:
The retail sector employs more temporary workers during the holiday season than any other industry. From greeting customers as they walk through the store’s front doors, to wrapping gifts to stocking shelves to ringing up shoppers at the cash register to surveilling the store for shoplifters, retail stores offer numerous positions to fill their need for additional staff. The holiday season is typically the busiest time of the year for most retail stores, requiring an additional stock of merchandise, and employees, from late October through January.

Food service:
As families, work groups and gatherings of friends get together throughout the holiday season to celebrate, caterers and restaurants are busy lending their services. Whether you are a chef or a bartender, or you can bus tables, wash dishes or deliver orders, temporary employment in the food service industry is ample during the holidays.

Transportation and logistics:
Shipping, packaging and delivery companies are swamped with demand during the holiday season, requiring staffing needs not necessary beyond their busiest time of the year. What this means for people seeking part-time, or even full-time, seasonal work is there are plenty of opportunities in the transportation and logistics industry. Employees work in warehouses, regional shipping headquarters and local stores sorting and delivering packages.

Hospitality and tourism:
Hotels, motels and other accommodations fill up this time of year, as family members travel across the country and throughout the world to spend the holidays with loved ones. Extra employees are needed to greet arriving guests and check-out departing guests in the reception area. There are increased demands for cleaning crews, luggage porters and parking lot attendants, as well. During the holiday season many tour guide companies arrange special trips and tours for groups and individuals, as many people with company in town seek out entertainment. Also, ski resorts and other resorts staff temporary employees during the winter.

Holiday characters:
Perhaps the most memorable seasonal workers are the men and women who dress up and act the parts of Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus and the elves at most malls across the country. To be successful, actors must be flexible, patient and great with children. They must have a good sense of humor and be very reliable.

Temp work:
Temporary work can be found year-round through temp agencies, the holiday season not excluded. In fact, during the months of November, December and January many full-time employees take time off, requiring some companies to employ temporary workers to fulfill their duties while they enjoy their vacations.

Miscellaneous:
If you already have a full-time job, but want to earn some extra cash around the holidays, talk to your family, friends and co-workers. Offer baby-sitting, dog-walking or cleaning services for hire. Help alleviate the usual holiday stress by offering your services in running errands like shopping for gifts, wrapping gifts or mailing gifts. Handle the household chores for a family member so he or she can shop for gifts. If the weather creates the need, shovel sidewalks and driveways for your neighbors for some extra cash.

Look for seasonal and holiday jobs in the Sunday Inquirer and Monday’s Daily News. Also, go to philly.com/jobs and enter ‘seasonal’ in the keyword search.