Tesco is recruiting more than 28,000 temporary workers across the UK to help keep its stores running smoothly during the busy Christmas period.
The supermarket giant is offering seasonal Christmas jobs for people looking to earn extra money over the festive season, including students hoping to fit work around their studies or anyone looking to gain experience in retail.
Most vacancies will be based in Tesco Superstores and Extra stores, with colleagues helping customers in store or picking grocery orders for home delivery. A smaller number of picking positions will also be available at distribution centres around the country.
Hourly pay starts at £13.28 across the UK, rising to £14.55 for supermarkets inside the M25 and anyone working night shifts will receive a further £2.35 per hour.
The supermarket chain is offering shifts at different times of day, including early mornings and evenings. This could give some flexibility when looking for work around other commitments.
And it’s worth knowing that you don't need previous retail experience to apply for the seasonal positions at Tesco.
For young people looking for their first job, the vacancies could provide a way to develop customer service, teamwork and time-management skills while earning money.
Although the Christmas positions are temporary, there may be opportunities for seasonal colleagues to move into permanent employment after the festive period, where suitable vacancies become available.
Interviews of around 30 minutes are now being held for the Xmas roles at Tesco in 2026.
Launching this year’s recruitment drive for seasonal staff, Tesco Group’s director of people services, Ela Golab, said: “We’re excited to be recruiting festive colleagues to help make this a season to remember for our customers. We're looking for people who can bring warmth, enthusiasm and a helpful service to every shopping trip.”
“We’re also keen to hear from applicants who may want to stay with us after Christmas and begin building a career at Tesco. No day is ever the same and festive colleagues will be able to feel the impact they make on every shift as they send customers home with a smile.
“What's more, no experience is necessary, just the right attitude,” added Ms Golab.
Applications are open online through the Tesco Careers website, where you can search for seasonal vacancies in your area.
Further opportunities are expected to appear across the country in the coming weeks, so it's worth checking regularly if you can't find a suitable position near you right now.
Sainsbury’s and Argos are recruiting 17,500 seasonal workers across the UK ahead of Christmas, giving students and other young people the chance to earn money during the festive period.
Tesco has announced plans to hire over 28,500 temporary staff across the UK to help keep shelves stocked and customers happy throughout the busy Christmas period.
Aldi, one of the UK's leading supermarkets, is gearing up for the festive season by launching a recruitment drive to fill 3,500 new positions across its stores.
