Looking for jobs can be tough, but with the summer season just around the corner there will be a surge in seasonal employment opportunities just ripe for the picking. Many of these jobs require long hours in a setting or position you might not typically enjoy, but the pros are that they are only part-time, lasting up to 12 weeks or so, and some of these jobs can actually be quite lucrative. Whether it’s fun in the sun or bundling up in the snow, with the changing of the seasons comes a whole new wave of prospects for you to make some money. While this can be a huge boon to people who are unemployed, it can also make a great supplemental income to people, like teachers who have the summers and winters off. Here are some places to find the best seasonal employment opportunities.

First, as the summer approaches, try to look for employment at a number of the world’s best resorts or cruises. Summer is the “in” season for many of these resorts and they see a huge surge in revenue, but it is often hard for them to find employees, which can actually make some of these jobs incredibly high paying. This is especially true on cruise ships. Many people take cruises to relax and not to work, no matter how much money it pays. However, resorts and cruises are great place to look for high paying jobs.

Next, farms and fisheries offer great employment opportunities during a few seasons of the year. In the autumn, when the leaves fall and the whether gets a little colder, many farms are ready for harvest. This can be grueling work, but many of times it offers a large paycheck at the end of your run, which usually lasts around 3 weeks or until the whole crop is reaped. In addition, if you visit Alaska you will find a number of fisheries that are offering employment with high wages and free room and board.

Also, Christmas is the season to be jolly, but it also the perfect season to find work. Many retail stores need people to work the storerooms, cashiers, act as Santa’s and even help people find the top toys for Christmas 2013. With the enormous surge in shopping during this time, there will be a huge shortage of helping hands, which can make this job very easy to get. It might not pay entirely well, but you might get some great discounts and some holiday pay.

Lastly, there are also a number of other seasonal jobs, like ski instructors during the winter and lifeguards during the summer. In a sluggish job market, it can be crucial to be savvy about where you look for income. If you can’t find anything steady, perhaps your best option is to look for seasonal employment opportunities. And if you like working outdoors, long hours and making money, this situation can end up working out perfectly for you and you might even have a story or two to share