Your Cliff Notes

• Holiday careers teach real-world skills like communication, organization, and adaptability. 
• Career awareness helps students connect schoolwork to future opportunities. 
• Seasonal jobs provide examples of teamwork and leadership under pressure.  

 
 
Ever wonder who makes the holidays happen? How can you go from placing an order online, for a Christmas gift, to having it under the tree in as a beautifully wrapped package? Why are the favorite foods like cranberries, turkey, and ham readily available during this season? From logistics to hospitality, the season is powered by careers that keep everything running smoothly. Behind every festive display and on-time delivery is a team of professionals managing details, solving problems, and ensuring the magic happens. For students, this is an incredible opportunity to learn about real-world jobs and the skills they require. In this blog, we are highlight the importance of career exploration (holiday edition), by shining the spotlight on holiday-related careers. As we explore these careers, we will break down the essential skills these roles demand. 

Let’s Think Career Awareness, Not Just Career Readiness

Career awareness is the bridge between classroom learning and real-world application. When students understand how their skills connect to actual jobs, they gain motivation and purpose. The holiday season is a perfect time to highlight this connection because it’s full of visible roles—delivery drivers, retail associates, event planners—all working together to create memorable experiences. These jobs show students that teamwork, organization, and adaptability aren’t just classroom buzzwords; they are career essentials. By introducing career awareness during the holidays, we make learning relevant and exciting. 

Early exposure to career concepts helps students make informed choices about their future. It also builds confidence by showing them that the skills they’re developing now are valuable in the workplace. When students see professionals applying these skills in holiday settings, they begin to understand how everyday living in society connects to career readiness. This awareness lays the foundation for career readiness and helps students envision themselves in roles where they can thrive. 

Connecting School to Real Jobs 

Students often ask, “When will I use this in real life?” Holiday careers may be a good learning hook or lesson primer to help answer this question for students. From calculating discounts in retail to managing schedules for deliveries, academic skills like math and organization come to life during the season.

Holiday Careers Spotlight 

The holiday season creates a surge in demand for certain careers. Retail workers keep stores running, logistics teams ensure packages arrive on time, and event planners coordinate festive gatherings. You have workers outside ploughing streets to keep them free of snow. Hospitality professionals manage accommodations and dining experiences for travelers. Flight attendants and pilots are doing their part to keep up with the busy holiday flying season. Whether the job is temporary for the season or a long-term role, they are essential jobs every single holiday season. And when we say holiday, this includes all of them – not just the busy seasons. Highlighting these opportunities helps students see the variety of paths available to them. It also gets them thinking beyond the usual career paths most kids think of – doctor, veterinarian, scientist, teacher, police officer, sports player, and astronaut.  

Something else to think about, when framing your career learning through the lens of seasonal roles. Such roles often involve fast-paced environments and problem-solving under pressure. These experiences mirror challenges in many full-time positions, making them excellent examples to discuss with students! You have the opportunity to not only shed light on the not-so-glamorous side of the workforce but also help them identify and analyze the power of transferable skills (e.g., how your job as a delivery truck driver can transfer to a retail position or job at the airport). Ultimately, by learning about such jobs, students gain insight into industries where flexibility, customer service, and operational efficiency are prominent.  

Careers That Make the Holidays Happen 

Holiday jobs are a great way for young people to earn extra income. Something else valuable, these jobs provide a great opportunity to build soft skills and technical experience. Here’s a fun fact – many professionals start in seasonal roles and grow into leadership positions. As you share this with students, consider having them complete the following activities, which can serve as great career conversation starters this holiday season! 

Actionable Ideas: 

• Create a list of holiday careers and their responsibilities. 
• Research salary ranges and growth opportunities. 
• Discuss how seasonal work can lead to full-time roles. 
• Highlight industries that peak during holidays (retail, logistics, hospitality).

Why Make This A Teachable Moment 

Behind every successful holiday operation, professionals are using a variety of soft skills to complete their job tasks. Think about the retail workers you interact with to buy a Christmas gift. Those workers rely on communication (a soft skill) to provide quality customer service. Consider the merchandisers and packagers, using their critical thinking and problem-solving soft skills to keep inventory organized and under control. They have to leverage such skills to make sure you get your package on time! For the workers out there delivering packages to homes and businesses, they must use their listening skills and stay adaptable to handle last-minute changes and high-pressure situations. The reality with the use of these soft skills; they are not only useful during the holidays. They are critical in every career. And this fact is another reason to use the holiday season as your storytelling opportunity to discuss career learning.  

Teaching students about these skills during the holiday season makes learning practical and engaging. It helps students practice seeing where soft skills are used in the workforce and how that might apply to them when they pursue their dream career someday. By reminding students (especially those embarking on their career journey after school) that employers value these traits, students are more likely to practice them intentionally. 

10 Practical Activities for Teachers & Parents 

Now that we have explored the careers and skills behind the holiday hustle, let’s make it actionable and practical that you can use in your learning space. The following activities you see are designed to help students connect what they are learning in class to real-world jobs, while keeping the holiday theme at the forefront. Test out these activities in your lesson, unit studies, group projects, or at home as a way to keep career exploration and readiness fun!  

1. Research One Holiday-Related Career 

Students pick a holiday job (like a retail associate or event planner) and research responsibilities, required skills, and growth opportunities. This activity builds research and presentation skills while connecting learning to real-world careers.  Here are some actionable steps:

• Provide a list of holiday careers for students to choose from. 
• Use online resources to find job descriptions and salary ranges. 
• Create a one-page summary or infographic. 
• Share findings in a short presentation. 

2. Interview a Family Member in a Seasonal Job 

Students learn firsthand about holiday work by interviewing someone with experience. This builds communication skills and helps students understand workplace realities. Here are some actionable steps:

• Prepare 5–7 interview questions about job duties and challenges. 
• Record the interview or take detailed notes. 
• Summarize key insights in a reflection paper. 
• Discuss findings in class or a group setting. 

3. Create a “Holiday Career Map” 

Have students design a visual map showing different holiday careers and their connections to industries. This activity reinforces organization and creativity. Here are some actionable steps:

• Use poster boards or digital tools like Canva. [This is a great way to add in some digital literacy skill building, too! Share with students the safe ways to use the Internet as they make their digital boards.]  
• Include job titles, skills, and growth paths. 
• Add icons or images for visual appeal. 
• Present maps in a classroom gallery walk. 

4. Role-Play as a Logistics Manager 

Who doesn’t love a good role-play game? In this activity, have students simulate managing holiday deliveries, focusing on scheduling and problem-solving. This builds adaptability and teamwork. Here are some actionable steps:

• Assign roles (manager, driver, customer). 
• Create scenarios like delayed shipments or inventory shortages. 
• Develop solutions as a team. 
• Reflect on what skills were most useful. 

5. Design a Flyer for a Holiday Event 

Students create a promotional flyer for a holiday party or sale (e.g., class holiday party, school baking event, local church community play). This teaches marketing basics and design skills. Here are some actionable steps:

• Use free design tools like Canva. 
• Include event details and a clear call-to-action. 
• Discuss why visual appeal matters in marketing. 
• Share designs in a classroom showcase. 

6. Discuss Stress Management in Seasonal Jobs 

Have students explore how professionals cope with holiday stress and brainstorm strategies. This is a great opportunity to build their emotional intelligence and resilience. Here are some actionable steps:

• Research common stressors in holiday jobs. 
• Create a list of coping strategies. 
• Role-play scenarios where stress management is needed. 
• Reflect on how these strategies apply to school life. 

7. Compare Seasonal vs. Year-Round Careers 

Have students analyze differences in pay, stability, and skill requirements. This exercises those critical thinking skills through the lens of career planning. Here are some actionable steps:

• Choose one seasonal and one permanent job. 
• Compare responsibilities and growth opportunities. 
• Create a pros-and-cons chart. 
• Present findings in a group discussion. 

8. Create a Short Video Explaining One Holiday Career 

Have students produce a 1–2 minute video highlighting a holiday job. This builds communication and tech skills. As a digital skill-building moment, have them produce their video with AI tools or features in platforms like Canva.  Here are some actionable steps:

• Script key points about the career. 
• Record using a phone or tablet. 
• Edit with free tools like iMovie or Canva. 
• Share videos on a class platform. 

9. Write a Reflection on Which Holiday Job You’d Try 

Students reflect on which holiday job appeals to them and why. This encourages self-awareness and goal setting. Here are some actionable steps:

• Write a one-page reflection. 
• Include reasons for interest and skills needed. 
• Share reflections in small groups. 
• Connect choices to long-term career goals. 

10. Build a “Skills Needed” Chart for Each Career 

Have students create a chart listing essential skills for holiday jobs. This reinforces the importance of soft skills. Here are some actionable steps:

• Choose 3–5 holiday careers. 
• List the top skills for each role. 
• Discuss why these skills matter in any job. 
• Display charts in the classroom. 

Deep Dive: Connection To Career Readiness In Students  

From delivery drivers to event planners, the holiday season creates millions of temporary jobs that keep the economy moving. UPS alone hires on average 100,000 seasonal workers each year (note this varies from year to year depending on supply and demand). These roles teach adaptability, customer service, and time management—skills that employers value in any field. Sharing these real-world examples helps students see that even short-term jobs can build long-term career skills. It’s a great way to connect classroom learning to the hustle behind the holidays. 

Behind the holiday hustle are careers that keep everything running. For us as educators and teachers, this is a great opportunity to create lessons that prepare students for the future in the workforce. By exploring these roles and practicing the skills they require, we turn seasonal traditions into powerful learning experiences. These activities don’t just teach students about jobs; they help them build confidence, adaptability, and leadership, which are the foundation of career success. We challenge you for this holiday season…let’s give students more than gifts; let’s give them the tools to thrive.  

Let’s Recap

• The holiday season is a perfect time to introduce career concepts. 
• Students learn transferable skills through real-world examples. 
• Simple activities turn seasonal excitement into career readiness lessons.