1. Quiz
  2. Your result
  3. Your plan
  4. Your guide

Step-by-step guide

Seasonal and temp work (harvests, festive season, stock-takes): your step-by-step start

Short paid contracts: fruit picking and packing, festive-season shop and warehouse work, stock-takes, exam invigilating and census-style fieldwork.

  • 18 lessons
  • 5 modules
  • About 1 hour
  • First lesson free

Is this guide for you?

Good fit if

  • People who want paid work quickly, can do set shifts for a few weeks, and are happy with physical or routine work.

Think twice if

  • You need money within the next two weeks: first income usually takes about 21 days.
  • You cannot free up about 20 hours a week.

Honest expectations

  • First income usually takes about 21 days.
  • Part time, most people earn a modest top-up from this. Treat bigger numbers you see online with care.
  • The main risk to plan for: fake job adverts that ask for a fee: the law does not allow anyone to charge you a fee to find you work.

What is inside

  1. Module 1

    Is this right for you?

    What it involves, who pays, and honest expectations.

    1. What seasonal and temp work (harvests, festive season, stock-takes) really involvesFree · 5 min
    2. Honest expectations4 min (in the full guide)
  2. Module 2

    Set up and price

    What you need and what to charge.

    1. Your startup kit, costs and skills5 min (in the full guide)
    2. What it pays and how you get paid5 min (in the full guide)
    3. Your numbers: what lands in your account5 min (in the full guide)
  3. Module 3

    Your first week

    The first steps, in order.

    1. Your first week, step by step6 min (in the full guide)
    2. Week one, step 2: Make a list of farms, pack houses, shops and warehouses that hire for the season3 min (in the full guide)
    3. Week one, step 3: Save copies of your ID and bank letter on your phone3 min (in the full guide)
    4. Where to find openings and what to send5 min (in the full guide)
    5. Messages to copy: applications and follow-ups5 min (in the full guide)
  4. Module 4

    Your first month

    A routine that brings in customers.

    1. Your first 30 days: build a routine4 min (in the full guide)
    2. Month one, task 1: Apply to five employers each week3 min (in the full guide)
    3. Month one, task 2: Join one trusted local job group and ignore any advert that asks for money3 min (in the full guide)
  5. Module 5

    Months two and three

    Repeat what works, grow and stay safe.

    1. Days 31 to 90: repeat what works and grow4 min (in the full guide)
    2. Months two and three, task 1: Ask your supervisor to call you back next season3 min (in the full guide)
    3. Months two and three, task 2: Use the season’s pay to start one small side hustle3 min (in the full guide)
    4. Getting paid and spotting fake jobs4 min (in the full guide)
    5. Risks, rules, tax and staying safe5 min (in the full guide)

What it costs to start

R0 to R300 to get started, from our research

What you will use:

  • One-page CV
  • Copies of ID and bank details
  • Work shoes and a hat
  • A list of seasonal employers

Prices change and differ by area, so check two places near you before you buy.

Try it before you buy

Lesson one is free. If it helps, the whole guide is R149 once-off.

Start the free lesson

Reviewed 24 October 2026 by the Earn Path team. Next review due 24 October 2027.