Ahh, Christmas, our favourite time of year. Presents, food and the occasional bit of snow make the December holidays one of the best things to look forward to all year. However, it can be difficult to get excited for the holidays when you haven't got any pennies! Luckily, we've tracked down some of the best tips and tricks for getting yourself hired this Christmas so you can splash out on the ones you love! We wouldn't say "no" to a selection box…

Where to start

First of all, think about what type of work you're prepared to do. Needless to say, Christmas is the busiest time of year for most sectors and these are the businesses that'll be hiring for the season, so be prepared to work hard! Though you may not fancy yourself stacking shelves for the majority of your Christmas holidays, if you're feeling the pinch this winter, you need to be open to any opportunities!

Key places to apply for

What's the first thing you think of when you hear the word "Christmas"? Presents? Gifts? Brand new iPad 2? Don't feel guilty, most people do, which is why shops are absolutely packed at this time of year. Of course, busier shops means that they'll need more staff and temporary sales assistants are just what they're after! Supermarkets and high-street stores are crawling with customers on the run-up to Christmas, so it's definitely worth nipping into your local Tesco with a CV in hand. You may be tempted to look at stores' websites for vacancies but, to be honest, you're better off asking at any near you. Larger chains have been reported to hire as many as 15,000 extra staff come Christmas so it's definitely worth a punt!

Every Christmas, millions of people send millions of cards and gifts up and down the country to one another. So, who might be a bit busy at this time of year? The post office, of course! You can help out by sorting out the mail, helping with deliveries, lifting packages and bags or helping with customer service through email and telephone enquiries. Pop down to your nearest post office (check the branch finder here) and have a word with a member of staff there. Remember to take a copy of your CV!

You've heard the phrase "eat, drink and be merry", right? Tons of people tend to overdo the middle bit, which is why all of the pubs are absolutely packed at Christmastime. Try dropping CVs off at all of your locals as they'll be in need of extra bar staff, waiters/waitresses and kitchen staff. Pick the right one and you may even get tips alongside your wage!

Other ideas

Know anybody with young children? They'll want some time to do the Christmas shopping or simply go out for a drink, so why not volunteer to babysit? It's easy to get so stressed out about getting everything done by Christmas Eve, a voluntary child-minder could be just what they need! Ask for recommendations and promote yourself on social sites like Facebook and Twitter.

Fairs and markets are absolutely huge at Christmas, especially when they're set up in the centre of a busy city. German markets become must-visit places on the weeks coming up to Christmas and they'll need some help with the stalls! There are literally hundreds of different roles all in one place so you can have the choice between serving or cooking food, promoting, cleaning, decorating and who knows what else? Check out your city's website for details and a phone number to apply.

A job that you may not have thought of comes with a big red suit and white bushy beard. You could be Santa Claus for Christmas! Tons of places hire somebody to act as Father Christmas for the weeks surrounding the big day and you could be the one to fill those large coal-black boots! Ask around any shopping centres near you or any of your local primary schools. All of the necessary training and advice should be provided by the venue, though in some cases, you may be required to supply your own reindeer.

Make sure to keep an eye on BIGDOG's constantly updating jobs and apprenticeships results as even a search like this can bring back some festive results! Happy job-hunting and Merry Christmas!