5 Great Holiday Jobs for Retirees

3. Gift Wrapper

The nitty-gritty: When it comes to wrapping special gifts, you need the creativity to make a present alluring. Much of the pressure comes from having a customer standing in front of you while you try to cut, fold and tie a bow with precision. Some things you can't rush, but you do need to move rather swiftly with nimble fingers and not too much wasted paper. These wrapping-table positions are usually found at gift shops, department stores or booths in shopping malls.
The hours: In-store jobs track shopping hours. For distribution center jobs, night shifts apply.
Median pay: The range is typically $8.60 to $9.70 an hour.
Qualifications: The ability to fold and wrap paper so it's taut and neat around a package, plus a knack for deftly twisting ribbon in ways that the typical customer can't fathom. This skill is generally self-taught, but you may be given crash on-the-job training with a few test packages. Some community colleges offer classes that teach the "creative art" of gift wrapping for around $25.

Can you turn on the charm and control a crowd all at once?>>