It's that time of the year again! Halloween is over, let the hustle & bustle begin. With the holidays being foremost on most minds, looking for a job this time of year is commonly believed to be difficult at best, futile at worst. Is this old adage true, or can this time of year bring even greater opportunities? Should your time be spent kicking back with a glass of egg nog, or aggressively continuing your job search? Here are some ways to take advantage of holiday job shopping.
• Use holiday parties and business functions as an excellent networking opportunity. It’s hard when you’re unemployed to get together with acquaintances that will inevitably ask how your job is, or if you’ve found a job yet. However, most people will view this as an opportunity to help, if they can, and will probably volunteer to do so. Be prepared. Don’t bring your resume with you to every gathering. Instead, create a personal business card with your name, contact information and skill highlight on the back. Your card can be easily passed on to other contacts, and you can follow up with a copy of your resume if needed. They are inexpensive to have printed and can have great returns on your investment!
• Create additional networking opportunities for yourself. View every opportunity where you have contact with people as an opportunity to network! Whether you are traveling - the woman sitting next to you on the plane may have a brother in your hometown who is looking for a sales professional. Helping at the church Christmas recital - the tenor in the back row may have a friend in HR at the manufacturing company you’ve had your eye on. Volunteering at the Food Pantry – your packaging partner’s neighbor may have just left his management position. Limitless opportunities for connections exist, you just have to capture and make the most of them!
• Use end-of-year budgeting to your advantage. Marketing yourself to companies now can help pave the way to success in the coming month. Whether companies are looking to fill current openings, or you work with them to create a new position, get a start now while budgets and plans are still flexible. You never know what can come of your creativity and sales tactics.
• Take advantage of lessened competition. Many people who find themselves unemployed around the holidays view this as an opportunity to take some “vacation time” for the typical holiday traditions: Shopping, decorating, spending time with friends and family. This means that although they may be looking for work, they are not pursuing opportunities as aggressively as usual. The up side for you? By maintaining, or increasing, your job search energies, you will have the upper hand in this competition. Come January 2nd, you want to be ahead of the game, not scrambling to catch up!
• Seize the seasonal opportunities! Get into the door of a company with whom you’d like to be permanently employed, if even for a temporary position. Once you’re inside, you can find out about opportunities before they hit the papers. Then, show them how valuable you are and why they should hire you permanently!
• Stay connected and maintain your support systems. The holidays are a time when many organizations and associations take a short leave of absence from meetings. Be sure you connect yourself to a networking or support group that continues to meet through the holiday season, whether it be a job search group through an employment center, or a group you’ve established on your own. Take advantage of friends and relatives who want to visit over the holidays to get support and reassurance.
• Keep in mind – “Tis the Season to be Jolly! When all is said and done, remember to enjoy the holidays and consider what is really important in your life: family, friends and peace of mind. You will find a job, the future does look bright, and you will look back on this and learn from it. In the meantime, spend within your budget, take a temporary position if needed, and enjoy the season. All work and no play can make for one very unhappy jobseeker!