Sixty-six percent of InHerSight readers say they're open to or seeking seasonal work.
Whether you’re navigating a career transition and want to explore or looking to supplement your income in an uncertain economy, seasonal work offers a path to trying out new industries and building skills without long-term commitment—all while cultivating adaptability in the face of change. But in a steeply competitive job market where larger platforms tend to be flooded with applications and illegitimate postings, the hunt can sometimes feel futile.
If applying on LinkedIn and Indeed isn’t yielding the results you seek, it might be time to take an alternative route.
Finding seasonal work that fits your needs comes down to knowing where to look—in places where employers post seasonal-specific roles and are a little less likely to be inundated with applications, or in informal networks as part of the “hidden” job market.
Step 1: Consider the seasonal jobs available now
Several industries thrive outside of prime seasonal work hiring periods, like the holidays:
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Tax preparation and bookkeeping services are busiest between January and April, which creates a need for talent at accounting practices and bookkeeping firms. You can apply through company careers pages, with national options including H&R Block, Jackson Hewitt, and Liberty Tax.
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Retailers and warehouses tend to need extra hands to manage post-holiday returns, exchanges, restocking, and delivery backlogs. These roles are likely to hire quickly without as many requirements for prior experience. Large companies known for hiring seasonally after the holidays include Target, Old Navy, Macy’s, and Kohls, but you can also look for retail and warehouse options near you for more options.
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Gyms and fitness studios see their largest membership surges of the year in January during New Year’s resolution season and are likely to hire front desk, cleaning, fitness instructor, and sales associate jobs to manage the surge—hopefully paired with discounted or free memberships. They often hire through their own websites, so check Planet Fitness Careers, your local YMCA, or independent studios’ career pages.
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Ski resorts and winter recreation facilities often hire more mid-season when initial staffing falls short or visitor traffic picks up. Large resorts like Vail Resorts and Alterra Mountain Company post continuous openings, and many include housing.
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Hotels, catering companies, and event venues bulk up for winter events and conferences, hiring seasonal event and front desk staff, catering assistants, and banquet support. Check for roles at your local Marriott and Hilton Careers. Smaller, boutique hospitality roles are also likely to be found on companies’ own websites or social profiles.
Step 2: Identify the type of job you actually want
Before you start applying, weigh your priorities to assess the best fit for you. You may be looking to maximize your cash flow, or maybe you’re open to lower pay if housing is covered at a destination that you’ve always wanted to explore. Consider whether at this point in your career, it’s more important for you to minimize stress or build more skills.
If you're staying local, factor in your commute, as a job with slightly less pay per hour that saves you 90 minutes of daily driving could ultimately end up saving you money.
Step 3: Know Where to Look for Seasonal Jobs
You’ve likely already been applying in places like LinkedIn and Indeed, but narrowing down a specific approach in your seasonal job search based on the industry you’re applying to can help increase your chances of landing the right role. Specialized seasonal job boards can be a good option, but there are also ways to engage people in the industries you’re trying to enter that can help improve your chances of a word-of-mouth referral.
There are many options:
Specialized seasonal job boards
Many, but not all, of these job boards offer relocation opportunities, or adventure-focused roles. Because they're less overloaded than the major platforms, you're more likely to find real opportunities with fewer applicants.
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CoolWorks is the go-to platform for unique destination jobs at national parks, ski lodges, ranches, and seasonal hotels. Check out Help Wanted Now for immediate opportunities and Housing Included if you’re willing to relocate.
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SeasonalJobs.com features camps, amusement parks, resorts, environmental organizations, and local businesses with diverse seasonal roles beyond typical resort work.
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VagaJobs specializes in resort and tourism jobs with international options—particularly useful if you have hospitality experience and are willing to travel.
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Occupation Wild and BackdoorJobs feature outdoor, environmental, and adventure-focused work including trip guides, camp counselors, wilderness therapy, and outdoor education roles.
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Xanterra hires for hospitality positions at U.S. national parks lodges, restaurants, and concessions.
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SeasonalJobs.dol.gov is the government's portal for verified H-2A and H-2B temporary jobs across agricultural and non-agricultural sectors.
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Wander Jobs centers travel—often outdoors-focused—with many positions including housing. Roles range from winter sports instruction to trail guiding to wilderness lodge support.
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Ranch Work specializes in ranching, farming, hunting, and equestrian jobs with a dedicated seasonal jobs page.
Staffing agencies and flexible work platforms
If moving isn’t an option for you, staffing agencies can help connect you with local short-term opportunities. A few reliable options include:
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Labor Finders specializes in blue-collar opportunities with flexible schedules across construction, manufacturing, light industrial, and hospitality. Their "Seasonal Jobs Hiring Now" section features roles that are immediately available.
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LF Staffing focuses on accounting, finance, bookkeeping, construction, hospitality, skilled trades, maintenance, and administrative roles—particularly useful for tax season positions. Some placements offer temp-to-hire potential.
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Robert Half places employees in finance and accounting, technology, administrative and customer support, and legal roles. They're a strong option if you have office skills and are seeking work in a professional environment.
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Kelly Services lists short-term clerical tax-season office support positions that spike between December and March.
These are national options, but you may find many more that are specific to your area. Try searching for local staffing agencies near you on Google—just be sure to vet them by checking what others have to say about their experiences.
Company websites and direct outreach
Some seasonal employers bypass job boards entirely, hiring through their own websites or informal networks. Try going directly to the source for:
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jobs at tax prep and bookkeeping services
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ski resort and winter recreation facilities
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gyms and fitness studios
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hotels
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catering companies
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event venues
Cold outreach works particularly well for smaller, more local employers. You can check their websites for openings, identify the hiring manager on LinkedIn or online and send a short message conveying interest, or reach out directly via email, phone, or online contact form to inquire about their seasonal needs.
You might also want to connect with managers and recruiters in the seasonal industry you’re looking to engage with to try to network within it—try asking for an informational interview to ask for advice and build connections that can lead to referrals.
Social media
If you’re already on these platforms, you might want to use them to supplement your search by finding local employers hiring immediately without enough time to make formal postings. Bear in mind: This terrain can be rife with scams, so you’ll need to do due diligence and keep an eye out for red flags.
Here are some good places to begin your social media vetting:
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Facebook groups are likely to have short-notice openings in relevant Facebook groups for warehouses, event venues, retailers, and gig employers. Search your region and industry and look for groups with names like: “[City] Jobs – Hiring Now”, “Seasonal, Temp & Part-Time Jobs – [City]”, “Warehouse & Manufacturing Jobs – [State]”, or “Hospitality, Events & Catering – [City]”. There’s also a Seasonal Jobs Abroad group, which features posts from people seeking and offering international positions.
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LinkedIn connections offer a natural way to network and build connections that can lead to word-of-mouth referrals.
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LinkedIn groups are helpful for white-collar, professional seasonal work. Try searching for the specific industry you’re looking for + “seasonal jobs”, then hit “Groups” to filter your results. If you join a group, you may find useful connections or jobs shared within.
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Instagram is more useful if you follow specific businesses like restaurants, event spaces, independent stores, and catering companies, which sometimes announce openings on their Stories or in posts.
Community resources
The most under-the-radar seasonal jobs never make it to traditional job boards. While the quality and volume may vary based on where you live, these local resources are worth checking:
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Local parks and recreation departments often post seasonal positions on their websites for roles like park attendants and program instructors. City, county, and state parks may offer flexible hours, as well as the opportunity to connect with people in your community.
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City tourism websites may post seasonal hospitality and event staff jobs for winter conferences and the like.
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Community bulletin boards at libraries, community colleges, coffee shops, and recreation centers sometimes offer short-term positions at local businesses. People working at smaller organizations who are looking to hire locals or don’t work well with technology may prefer this route over sifting through online applications.
Step 4: Avoid these common pitfalls to optimize your seasonal search
Seasonal jobs move quickly, with employers often looking to fill immediate needs. Mid-season openings can appear and disappear within days, so apply early and often. Make a list of the places you want to browse, and set up weekly alerts so you don’t miss the job you want.
If you’re planning to relocate, it’s crucial to confirm housing and pay details in writing before saying “yes.” That includes location, costs, and pay arrangements. “Housing included” could mean shared rooms far away from your place of work, or that the cost is taken out of your paycheck.
Job scams are unfortunately everywhere, so stay vigilant and never share your personal information without first verifying an opportunity’s legitimacy. If something sounds too good to be true, investigate further! Do your research, read reviews, and vet job postings for professional verbiage and clear descriptions.
Your immediate next steps for landing seasonal work: Choose your own adventure
The time has come to land your next gig, so pick your approach below based on your top priority. If you’re aiming for…
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Fresh air: Bookmark CoolWorks, Wander Jobs, and/or VagaJobs. Spend 15-30 minutes browsing to get a sense of what's available, then set up job alerts for your preferred locations and roles.
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Opportunities closer to home: Join 2–3 Facebook job groups in your area. Research and make a list of 5–10 nearby employers that are likely to hire seasonally. Then, check their websites or call to ask about openings.
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Office and financial experience: Contact LF Staffing or Robert Half and register as a candidate for tax season roles. Make a list of small accounting firms and bookkeeping services in your area, and email them directly to convey your interest in seasonal support.
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Becoming your own version of Leslie Knope: Check out your local parks and rec departments to discover opportunities near you!
After your first week of searching, take stock. If your strategy isn't getting you the results you want, assess what you may need to shift.
The best approach for you is one that feels doable—so pick your path, spend a week searching, and adjust as needed. Now that you know where to look, you may be surprised by what you find!
