How three people turned their Christmas casual jobs into full-blown careers
PHOTOGRAPHY BY HAYLEY PEASE AT THE UNCOMMON AGENCY
Words by Alyssa Forato
Your job from the most wonderful time of year could turn into a lifelong career.
Christmas is an extremely busy time for the retail world. People are shopping for the perfect present for their loved ones, rushing frantically from store to store. Sales are at their highest for the entire year, and brands often need an extra hand to keep them stocked and staffed for the busy period. That’s where Christmas casuals come in.
Hired for the holiday period, Christmas casuals are temporary workers who are usually employed by a company from November to February. They keep shelves stocked, serve customers and handle registers, keeping the store running smoothly and helping the permanent staff.
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Sometimes managers love Christmas casual workers so much, they decide to keep them on a permanent basis. From here, it’s possible to explore different avenues and turn what was supposed to be a fleeting job into a fruitful career. To find out more, I spoke to three different women who started out as holiday-season employees and have worked their way up the ladder into thriving permanent positions.
Amy Smith, VIC Regional Manager for Country Road and Trenery
When did you start as a Christmas casual?
I started working for Country Road as a Christmas casual in November 2009.
How did you stay on past Christmas and take the next steps?
During my time working as a Christmas casual, my manager approached me and asked if I would be interested in staying with the brand to explore a trainee manager role. I loved fashion and wanted to build a career around it, so I went for it and never looked back.
What do you do now?
[I’m the] VIC Regional Manager for both Country Road and Trenery.
Is there any advice you have for others wanting to develop their Christmas casual jobs into something more?
My main advice would be to have regular conversations with your manager about your aspirations, including any areas of the business where you have an interest in growing your retail skill set. From teamwork and communication to sales and management – there are so many skills you can learn from working in retail.
One of the best parts about life in retail is that every day is different from the next. It’s a fantastic place for people who love fashion to connect and work together in a great team. I still remember my first day working for Country Road, I met a friend in-store on that day. We are still friends 13 years later.
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How did you go from trainee manager to VIC regional manager across two huge brands?
Throughout my journey with Country Road, I’ve had the chance to work across many different store locations and various departments with the brand (eight stores in total). This experience has provided me with exposure to various aspects of the retail landscape, whilst also introducing me to many wonderful colleagues across multiple store locations, who each carry their own retail expertise that I could observe and learn from.
Something I’ve learnt throughout my time at Country Road is how important it is to establish and nurture strong relationships with your team – those who you work with day-to-day, but also key stakeholders at head office and across the brand. Teamwork and strong relationships will go a long way in a retail career. It was through my workplace connections and a willingness to try new responsibilities that career growth opportunities arose.
Abigail Boddy, Diamond Specialist at Sarah & Sebastian
When did you start as a Christmas casual?
In 2020, I started a short intro to a jewellery-making course where the jeweller teaching us knew I had previous experience working in the industry… [they] suggested I apply for a position with Sarah & Sebastian. I initially applied as a Christmas casual, as I loved the history and ethos behind the brand; it was really important for me to work somewhere that aligned with my values.
How did you stay on past Christmas and take the next steps?
I was approached by management and offered a full-time position. I was so excited by this prospect and felt really valued to be approached and offered this role! Within my new role, I began my training as a Diamond Specialist so that I was best prepared to host engagement appointments.
This has always been an area of interest for me, and the ongoing training has been so diverse and [more] in-depth than I could have imagined. This year, we were enrolled in the Gemmological Association of Australia’s (GAA) Practical Diamond Grading and Advanced Diamond Grading courses. This means that I am now able to source diamonds on behalf of my clients and know what features and attributes are most desirable for their engagement rings.
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What do you do now?
I am now in my second year with Sarah & Sebastian, and have enjoyed every second of being a Diamond Specialist! Each experience is always so different, and I love to hear our client’s stories.
Is there any advice you have for others wanting to develop their Christmas casual jobs into something more?
My advice would be to find a brand or a story that you love. A Christmas casual position can lead to so much more and gives you the opportunity to really get the vibe of the business at the busiest time of the year. If there is a position you are interested in, have a chat with that person about what led them to their role, and what opportunities they have had access to since they began.
I could never have envisioned my journey with Sarah & Sebastian when I first applied; all I knew was that I loved their designs, and have always loved the experience of shopping at Sarah & Sebastian! You never know where you may find yourself, or how much you can learn from a Christmas casual job.
Clare Fisher, VIC Regional Manager for Mecca
When did you start as a Christmas casual?
I joined Mecca Brands originally as a ‘Summer Host’ back in 2014 in Myer Melbourne. When I first started, I was looking to fulfil my dreams of being a working makeup artist. I fell in love with the energy of working in-store and the Mecca magic culture within the business.
How did you stay on past Christmas and take the next steps?
I worked across multiple Mecca [stores] and grew from a Summer Host to a full-time makeup artist. I had a passion for education and people, and once I started developing my people management skills, I knew I found my career path.
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What do you do now?
Throughout my years, I experienced store management at every level and various education roles in our field team. After taking on a state training role in Queensland, I returned to Victoria at the end of 2019 for a regional sales management role.
Is there any advice you have for others wanting to develop their Christmas casual jobs into something more?
Be passionate about people, customer experience and in my case, beauty. Be open to opportunities that will present themselves, feedback and growth – do whatever it takes and have fun!
For more on how to move up the career ladder, head here.
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