It can be tempting to ignore the job search during the holiday season. The cozy fire, hot cocoa, and ice skating all seem infinitely more interesting than looking for a job (and they might be). However, December is a great time for job seekers to be as persistent as ever. Here are a few reasons why:
Many companies continue hiring as normal over the holidays
Contrary to popular belief, the holidays are not a black hole of productivity (not entirely, anyway). Many companies continue hiring as normal over the holiday season, while up to 75 percent of job seekers take the season off. It’s a no-brainer then that job hunting can be quite effective over the holidays! Job seekers who continue their job search will potentially face less competition than at other times of the year.
Additionally, companies who do slow down over the holiday season will need to get a jump on hiring early in January. They will look to resumes that were received during December; not waiting around for the ones that trickled in after the new year.
The holidays are the perfect time to network
The holiday season is filled with parties, seeing old friends, and catching up with family. At what other time of the year is it acceptable to send out newsletters talking about your life? Job seekers should consider mentioning their job search in the family holiday newsletter, if appropriate. Be sure to insert a joke about waiting for one of the positions as Santa’s elves to open up! Job seekers should also be ready to chat about their job search at the drop of a hat—over cocktails, at family get-togethers, or while grabbing coffee with friends from home. Alison Green cautions that the job search should come up naturally in conversation; don’t be too pushy. However, do consider talking to new acquaintances as well as old friends. Have business cards handy if you’d like, and be sure to follow up with any potential leads after the new year.
Your job search is the perfect excuse to oust relatives outstaying their welcome
This is sort of a joke… and sort of not a joke. The job search can often cause headaches. So if during this holiday season the job search convinces Great Aunt Pinch-Your-Cheeks-Even-Though-You’re-Thirty-Five Imogene to head out early…consider it a holiday miracle.*
Happy job seeker holidays, everyone! Leave a comment below with some tips for staying motivated during the holiday season, or send me a tweet: @ithinkther4iamb
*Author cannot be held responsible if job seekers end up on the Naughty List for this behavior.
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