A holiday job used to be a way to earn some extra money to cover presents and pay a few bills. Now, according to a survey from job search engine SimplyHired.com, the majority of holiday job seekers are those who just need a job - any job.

SimplyHired reports that 66% of job seekers are looking for a seasonal job because they are out of work this holiday season. 24% of job seekers simply need the additional income and 8% need money for school expenses.

If you're looking to earn some extra money during the holiday season, it's quick and easy to apply for the holiday jobs that are available - and there's not all that many, so apply everywhere you can. I picked up a few holiday job applications at the mall the other day and they are so simple that they only take few minutes to complete.

Before you go, make a list of the information you need to apply, so you're ready to complete an on-the-spot job application. Dress appropriately, be ready for an interview, and you may get a holiday job sooner than you expected!

Related: Holiday Jobs | In-Person Job Applications

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Need to find a job fast? There are job search shortcuts you can utilize to cut down the time it takes to find a job. However, keep in mind that the best way to save job search time is to be prepared in advance - have a resume ready, have contacts you can connect with, and be ready to job search, just in case you have to on short notice.

Even if you're not prepared to job search and you've unexpectedly lost your job, don't worry, there are steps you can take to speed up your job search. And, if your job search is stuck and not going anywhere, here's how to unstick your job search.

More: OneStop Job Search Guide

What's a scam and what's not? It can be really difficult to tell the difference between scams and legitimate job openings, especially when it comes to work at home jobs. Here are scam warning signs to watch for and how to spot a scam.

Before you apply for a job online, especially work at home jobs, review the scam warning signs to help you determine if a job is a scam. If you're not sure, take the time to research the company to make sure the job is legitimate. Search Google using the company name plus "scam" or "rip off" will give you some information on the company if it's not legitimate.

If you have been take advantage of by a scammer or know about a job scam, add it to our scam list and review the list of online job scams so you can avoid them.

More: Job Scams | Work at Home Scams | List of Job Scams

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If you're looking for a job to get you through the holiday season, hang in there.  It's been tough times for holiday job seekers, so far.   Challenger, Gray & Christmas, the global outplacement firm, reports that  employment in the sector experienced a net gain of just 63,500 jobs last month.   That was a slight improvement over last year.

However, there are some indicators that the market is improving, so don't give up on your holiday job search.   John A. Challenger, CEO of Challenger, Gray & Christmas. says "There have been some signs that retail is picking up, so we could see a surge in November employment gains.  If you are looking for a seasonal job, it would be wise not to give up the search.  Retailers are taking a wait-and-see approach and could decide to bring in extra workers at the last minute." 

From a personal perspective, I've seen help wanted signs in store windows and ads for UPS and other companies that hiring seasonal workers.  Ski resorts, if you're in snow country, are in the midst of hiring, as well.

If you're looking to earn some extra money during the holiday season, it's quick and easy to apply for the seasonal retail jobs that are available.  I picked up a couple of holiday applications for employment at the mall the other day and the applications are so simple that they only take few minutes to complete.   Before you go, make a quick list of all the above information, so you're ready to complete an on-the-spot job application. Dress appropriately, be ready for an interview, and you may just have a job offer much sooner than you expected!

Related:  Holiday Season Jobs  | In-Person Job Applications   Online Job Applications 

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