5 Last-Minute Winter Break Job Ideas For College Students

As finals finally start to wind down (thank goodness), now is the time of year when college students start to pack their things and head to their hometowns for the holidays. Depending on which school you go to, this break can be anywhere from three to six weeks, making winter break a pretty substantial amount of time off. But as appealing as this much time off can sound, if you’re anything like me, you can start to get a bit of cabin fever after a few days. (I mean, I can only bed rot for so long, you know?) Winter break is long enough that you might start to wish for something actually productive to do, and what better thing to do than work a couple of hours when you’re free? 

Getting a job over winter break will not only fill up your time at home, but, more importantly, it will help ensure you can bring back some extra spending money to campus in the new year. (Look, spring break will be here before you know it, so you’d better start saving now!) 

While it’s not always easy to convince a manager to hire you for just a few weeks — especially if you’re looking to start immediately — there are still quite a few employment  options that are perfect for short stints, depending on your level of commitment and what you want to do. So, here are some last-minute winter break job ideas that are ideal for college students.

Seasonal Retail 

The holidays mark the busiest time of the year for shopping, and some stores rely on seasonal workers —cashiers, stockers, and more — to help them keep up with the demand. Check out the careers websites of stores in your hometown, or call them directly to see if they need any extra help for the holidays. 

Tutoring 

Tutoring could be a great way to work a few hours and stay sharp on some school topics! Look into helping some elementary, middle, or high school kids in your area with stuff related to your major, or even try out working for an online tutoring company that can easier put you into contact with clients. 

Food Delivery Service 

If you have access to a car, working for a delivery service like Uber Eats, GrubHub, or DoorDash could be perfect for you, especially because the hours can be pretty much whenever you want.

Babysitting & Dog Walking 

These are the tried-and-true classics for young people — just ask your parents! Reach out to families in your neighborhood and see if they need any help with their pets or kids, and if so, it’s a fun way to earn some money on an as-needed basis.

Revisiting Your High School Jobs 

If you had a good experience working in high school, consider reaching out to your old job and see if they need any help for a few weeks. You wouldn’t even need to be trained — and plus, you’d get to catch up on all the old workplace gossip!

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