If you are thinking of putting your job search on hold until after the holidays, think again. The holiday season is one of the best times to find a new job.
Holiday job hunters are more successful than those who take time off from their job search for several reasons:
- Less Competition: Both unemployed job seekers and employed individuals considering a change of career typically put off their search until after the new year. Take advantage of this opportunity to get noticed by potential hiring managers during the holiday season.
- Hiring Managers are Easier to Reach: Over the holidays hiring managers are less likely to be traveling as they focus on finishing up projects and preparing for the new business year.
- The Holiday Spirit Pervades: Everybody seems to be in higher spirits during the holiday season. Leverage this good will to create new career opportunities for yourself.
- Avoid the Rush: Many companies review their staffing needs in January of each year. Get ahead of the crowd by making yourself known to hiring managers before they start searching for candidates in January.
Perhaps the greatest advantage to holiday job hunting is the networking opportunities that the holiday season provides. Follow these strategies to network effectively over the holidays:
- Speak Up: As friends and family gather to celebrate the holidays capitalize on your captive audience by sharing your career goals with them. As many job leads come from word of mouth, getting the word out there that you are searching for employment may provide promising job leads.
- Perfect Your Pitch: At holiday gatherings you are provided with the opportunity to meet new people. Attend as many social events as possible to both expand your interest, and practice delivering your elevator pitch.
- Reconnect: The holiday season is the perfect time to reach out to professional contacts you haven’t already engaged in your job search. Send out holiday cards or email your contacts to wish them a happy holiday season, and invite them to catch up with you in person or by phone.
- Stay on Schedule: Don’t let the holiday chaos get you off track in your job search. For every social event you add to your calendar this holiday season schedule an hour or more to follow up on leads, target your resume towards certain positions, and enhance your LinkedIn profile.
To check out more information on this trending career topic read Find Job Search Success During the Holidays and Why December Might Be the Best Time of Year to Get Hired.