The good, the bad, and the ugly behind seasonal work

Seasonal work is the latest hustle to hit our feeds. From TikTok videos showcasing a POV with stunning views to Influencers showing you how you can save $100k and travel the world while working seasonal jobs for only part of the year, being a seasonal worker is the ultimate hustle. However, while your feed might be showing you “A day in the life of a park ranger” or “POV: You spend the summer in Alaska rather than your hometown,” for many, a seasonal job means working in retail at the local mall, bussing tables at a popular restaurant or agricultural work under the hot sun.

Even if you are lucky enough to score a job in a great location, your lodging, manager, and fellow seasonal workers might not make life that sweet. So, is seasonal work the answer to escaping your 9 to 5, or is it a delicate balance that can crumble at any moment? Here’s the good, the bad, and the downright ugly.

The good

Seasonal work can be a perfect fit for many different types of people. Perhaps you want to ditch corporate life, have more flexibility, see the world, or pad your income. There are plenty of benefits to seasonal work ripe for the picking. So, how do you know if it’s right for you?

An adventurous lifestyle

Travel is one of the key reasons people take on seasonal work. They want to visit new places, experience something different, and get out of the 9 to 5 grind. If you’re choosing seasonal work to expand your horizons, then you’re probably okay with not knowing what tomorrow brings. You’re just looking for an adventure, and it’s a great way to get one – it’s probably the most talked about reason for taking on seasonal work online, so you’ll find plenty of inspo and info for adventures in your feed. It’s not just for Gen Z and Millennials either, plenty of Gen X’ers, like @bodaciouscoach, who turned to the seasonal life as an empty nester following a divorce, are embracing the new challenge and showing others how it’s done.

Learning new skills

Seasonal work is, by nature, short-term. So, if you don’t like where you end up, you don’t have to stick it out for long (not even until the end of your contract if you don’t want to). Changing jobs every six months or less also means you get the opportunity to hone your skills and learn new ones. Youtuber and positivity guru, Timothy Ward, is among the many people saying it changed his life for the better. From leading tours to teaching, and retail work or camp counseling there are plenty of options to try. While housekeeping might not be your dream job, working as a housekeeper in a ski resort means you’ll still learn new things about customer service. With most seasonal work, you’ll learn communication skills, time management, teamwork, and problem-solving. You’ll take on new and different responsibilities, learn the kind of management styles you love, and figure out exactly what gets the job done. All great skills for a future career if you decide you’re not a seasonal work “lifer.”

Boosting your CV

All those new skills are great for fleshing out your resume and demonstrating your work ethic and willingness to try new things. Taking on seasonal work can be a great way to fill a career break or enter a new industry – just be aware when applying for permanent jobs, you might not want to be a million miles away with no way of coming in for an interview.

Meeting new people

Whether you’re working on the other side of the planet and staying in staff accommodation or taking in the shifts at your local Target during the holidays, seasonal work is a great way to meet people and make new friends. Granted, when you’re room sharing, the process is likely quicker, but working alongside people toward a common goal can be a great way to make connections and you never know where those connections may take you. Networking is never wasted.

The bad

While influencers may show you life through rose-colored glasses, there are most definitely some downsides to seasonal work, especially because not all seasonal work is about travel and living your best life. If you’ve signed on for seasonal work because you’re unemployed and hoping to land a permanent role, be warned, there often is no intention of keeping you on, because the demand simply isn’t there. It may, however, give you a leg up in the future.

Being away from your community

In a tearful video, Jada Warner shared some of the downsides of seasonal work away from home. “I’m away from everything I know for five months, doing a job that no one really loves to do. Housekeeping? No one _lives for housekeeping_… it can be overwhelming at times.” She says, “In the next week I’m missing my dad’s birthday, my mom’s birthday, my niece’s birthday, and today is Father’s Day… It’s hard to be missing the lives of those that I love.” Not being around for important events might not seem like a big deal before you leave, but watching everyone have fun without you is hard, especially if you’re having a tough week. You won’t be there to celebrate the highs or commiserate on the lows with your loved ones.

Limited growth opportunities

It’s no secret that hopping from one type of seasonal work to another, though it speaks to your adaptability, is unlikely going to help you progress up the career ladder. Still, many choose seasonal work to get away from the work-sleep-repeat cycle, so perhaps it’s just less of a priority for some.

Having several side hustles and switching jobs more frequently is becoming increasingly common, but some seasonal workers still bemoan the “Dinosaur Era Recruiters” who want to make out this is a bad thing. “Job-hopping,” or working many different jobs for short periods of time can be a red flag to some recruiters. So, if you are considering finding a long-term position at some point, you may want to prioritize staying in one place or with one company to show you can commit for the long-haul.

Off-season blues

Some seasonal workers may earn enough in season to finance their off-season lifestlye, but not everyone has that luxury. Some work different seasons in different parts of the country or world, but for many, the reality is taking minimum wage “band-aid” jobs in the off-season just so they can get by. It’s not a case of living your best life when half the year you’re working long hours doing something you love, but the other half you end up working long hours doing something you hate.

No two jobs are created equal and according to many finding the right one is the key to making it work. Read reviews from others who have done the work. Make sure you know what you’re getting yourself into housing-wise and money-wise and look for work through recommended websites like coolworks.com.

So, there you have it. Seasonal work is full of highs and lows, while many claim ditching their 9 to 5 and becoming a seasonal worker was the best thing they ever did, others hate being stuck in a seasonal role where they feel underappreciated, underpaid and overworked. Perhaps the difference is whether seasonal work is taken on as a lifestyle choice, out of necessity to make ends meet, or because a permanent job is impossible to find. Whatever the case, one thing is clear. Before you decide to become a seasonal worker, do your research because whatever job you take, you’re going to be working hard.

Photo: Welcome to the Jungle

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