How to Job Search During the Holidays -

How to Job Search During the Holidays -How to Job Search During the HolidaysHow to Job Search During the HolidaysThere is a myth out there that says that companies dont hire during the holidays. But its just thata myth. Just ask the jobseeker who was offered a job on Black Friday. Or the one who was invited in for a second interview two days before Christmas.Putting your job search on hold between Thanksgiving and New Years isnt just a bad idea its a self-fulfilling prophecy. Like hockey great Wayne Gretzky said, You miss 100% of the shots you dont take. If youre not looking for a job during the holidays, youre not going to find one.Employers hire all 12 months of the year. In fact, many new positions are funded to start with a new budget year which often coincides with a new calendar year. Other hiring managers have hiring budgets that must be spent before the end of the year use it or lose it. Both of unterstellung scenarios offer opportunities for job seekers in December.The ho lidays also offer some natural opportunities to network and spread the word about your job search there are company parties, social gatherings, end-of-the-year professional association events, and even Christmas cards and letters. Many of these strategies are available whether youre unemployed or if you have a job but are looking to improve your job situation.Working on your job search during the holidays may also mean less competition from other candidates who put their job search on hold. Many people wait until January making it a New Years entscheidung to look for a new job. If you wait until January 2 to start or resume your job search, youll have mora competition.It may even be easier to connect with a hiring manager during December as many key personnel are in the office while the lower-level staff takes paid holiday time off during the month.Even if you arent offered a job in December, you can lay a lot of the groundwork by making connections before the end of the year, ma king it more likely that youll be hired quickly in the new year.11 Ideas for Job Searching During the HolidaysHere are some specific strategies you can use in your holiday job search.Accept all invitations you receive for holiday parties and get-togethers. Whether its a social or charity event, dinner party, spouses Christmas party, or professional association event, use these opportunities to reacquaint yourself with people who might be useful in your job search, and make new connections. Be sure to follow-up.Re-connect with old friends and colleagues. Your network can be a great source of information, job leads, and referrals. Get back in touch with previous co-workers and supervisors, people from high school and college, former neighbors, etc.Host your own holiday party. It doesnt have to be anything formal or elaborate. Hosting your own holiday open house, dinner party, or get-together can help jumpstart your job search (but that shouldnt be the focus of your party, of course). However, extending an invitation is a great excuse to reach out and talk with someone you havent spoken to in a whileAsk for specific information or help. For example, ask if the person knows anyone who works at x company instead of asking if they know of anyone hiring. During the holidays, your contacts might have more time to be of assistance, and they might be in a mood to be generous at this time of the yearVolunteer. There are many opportunities during the holidays to give your time to charities and organizations. Some of these opportunities might also help you build your network, make new connections, and bolster your rsum.Use holiday cards to connect. If Christmas cards, holiday letters, and e-greetings are part of your end-of-the-year tradition, mentioning your job search (if youre currently unemployed, or your position is ending) can be a useful strategy. Let people know youre lookingCreate a business networking card. Develop a business card that lists your contact informat ion and social media links especially to your LinkedIn profile. You can use this in lieu of your normal business card or instead of it, if youre unemployed.Update your social media presence. If you dont yet have a LinkedIn profile, now is the time to create yours. If you have one, give it a fresh look. Is it time to update it? Can you increase your number of Connections or solicit additional Recommendations?Look for opportunities to get your foot in the door. If youre currently unemployed, look for temporary or seasonal jobs that may lead to full-time positions.Connect with recruiters. Many are trying to reach year-end recruiting goals at this time of the year, and you may have just the skills they are looking for.Set a specific goal for your job search. Instead of drumherum a goal to get a new job, your goal might be to make a certain number of new connections or to schedule a certain number of informational interviews. Making progress on this type of goal will ultimately help yo u achieve your goal of a new job.Make sure youre reachable. You might be asked to interview at unusual times for example, the day before Christmas. Keep your phone on and make sure youre checking your voice mail and email regularlyChallenges to Overcome with a Holiday Job SearchConducting a job search in December isnt without its challenges, however. While some hiring managers are hard at work throughout the month, others may be on vacation. Some companies also close during the week from Christmas to New Years Day.The holidays can also distract you from your job search. Shopping, vacations, family activities, and holiday parties can all take away time from your job search, if youre not careful.Check your attitude, too. The holidays are a season of joy and thankfulness, but that can be tough when youre out of work. However, its important to maintain a positive attitude or at least fake it until you make it. Even if youre not feeling it, act as if you are, because employers want to hire positive, optimistic employees.Also, dont overextend yourself during the holidays. Be sure to exercise, get enough sleep, and eat well.And watch out for holiday employment scams. In your desire to make extra cash for the holidays, dont get caught up in job-related scams like fake mystery shopping gigs, package processing rip-offs, or work-at-home cons. Check out job opportunities carefully, and never accept payments for work you havent done yet. And never deposit a check into your account and wire or transfer payments out before the payment has fully cleared (wait at least two weeks).Dont be surprised if you dont hear anything back right away. Because a lot of people use their accumulated vacation time before the end of the year, you may find yourself waiting a bit longer than usual for a response to your rsum or follow-up after a job interview. Be patient, but persistent.If its your goal to find a new job in the new year, dont put off your job search just because its the hol iday season. A job search that starts in December gives you the opportunity to get hired before the end of the year or to have momentum and a head start on other candidates once the calendar turns over on January 1.For more personalized help with your job search and career management, consider working one-on-one with an executive resume writer. To explore this opportunity, take advantage of our free resume strategy session to review your current resume, discuss goals for your next career move and see if/how we can help.