Christmas jobs
Seasonal roles you can actually get at 16 or 17, in shops, markets, cafés and warehouses across the UK. Most need no experience, and many turn into permanent jobs in January.
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How do you get a Christmas temp job at 16 or 17?
Christmas temp jobs for 16 and 17 year olds include retail and supermarket work, Christmas markets, hospitality, grotto helpers and gift wrapping, with some warehouse and parcel roles open to under-18s. Pay is at least £8.00 an hour (April 2026 rate). Apply between September and mid-November, and say exactly when you can work — availability is what gets temps hired.
Last reviewed by the Shine careers team.
The main Christmas temp roles
Retail & shops
£8.00–£11/hr
Shop floor, tills, stockroom and shelf-filling. The biggest Christmas employer of under-18s, apply to supermarkets and high-street chains early.
Christmas markets
£8.00–£10/hr
Stall staff, food servers and ticket sellers at markets in city centres. Friendly, outdoor work, great first job.
Hospitality
£8–£12/hr + tips
Christmas party season means restaurants, hotels and cafés need extra waiters, bar backs and kitchen porters.
Warehouse & packing
£9–£13/hr
Picking, packing and sorting for the delivery rush. Many roles are 18+, but some sites take 16–17 year olds on day shifts, check each advert.
Delivery support
£8.00–£11/hr
Helping in depots and sorting offices over the parcel peak. Royal Mail and couriers recruit temps every autumn, some roles 18+.
Grottos & events
£8.00–£10/hr
Grotto helpers, elves, queue managers and event stewards at shopping centres and winter attractions.
How to actually get one
- Apply in September–November. The big retailers close applications early, and markets hire weeks before they open.
- Say exactly when you can work. Christmas temps are hired for availability, evenings, weekends and the school holidays are your selling point.
- Walk in locally. Independent shops, cafés and market stalls often hire with a chat, not an application form. Bring a one-page CV.
- Apply to several at once. Temps hear back fastest, but volume still wins, five applications beat one.
No experience? No problem.
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Your rights as a Christmas temp
- • Minimum wage at 16–17: £8.00/hour (from April 2026). All rates by age.
- • Temp work has the same rights as any job: payslips, breaks, and paid holiday built up while you work.
- • In the school holidays you can work up to 40 hours a week; term time is evenings and weekends only.
- • You should never pay to apply. Legit employers never charge for training, uniforms upfront or "registration".
FAQs
- Can a 16 year old get a Christmas temp job?
- Yes. Retail shops, Christmas markets, cafés, restaurants and garden centres take on 16 and 17 year olds for the Christmas rush. Some warehouse and parcel roles are 18+ because of shift times or equipment, so check each advert. Pay for 16–17 year olds is at least £8.00 an hour (April 2026 rate), and many large retailers pay more.
- When should I apply for Christmas jobs?
- Most Christmas temp recruitment happens between September and mid-November, and the biggest retailers close applications early. Apply as soon as adverts appear, the earlier you apply, the more shifts you can pick from. If you're reading this in December, still apply: stores backfill leavers right up to Christmas Eve.
- What Christmas jobs can you get with no experience?
- The most common no-experience Christmas roles are shop assistant, stockroom and shelf-filling, café and fast-food counter staff, Christmas market stall assistant, grotto helper, gift wrapper and parcel sorting (often 18+). Employers hiring temps expect to train you, reliability and availability matter more than a CV.
- How many hours can a 16 or 17 year old work over Christmas?
- If you're in full-time education, term-time rules still apply until the school holidays: evenings and weekends only. In the Christmas holidays you can work up to 40 hours a week and 8 hours a day, with a 30-minute break after 4.5 hours and 12 hours' rest between shifts. Full guide: hours, tax and your rights at 16
- Do Christmas temp jobs become permanent?
- Often, yes. Retailers and hospitality chains regularly keep their best Christmas temps on into January and beyond. Treat the temp role like a long interview: turn up on time, volunteer for extra shifts, and tell your manager you'd like to stay.
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