Holidays Job Search Strategies

Holidays Job Search Strategies

Job Search Ideas November 26, 2024

Holidays Job Search Strategies

​There's a prevailing misconception suggesting that companies don't hire during the holiday season. However, this notion is nothing more than a myth. Just inquire with the job seeker who received a job offer on Black Friday or the one summoned for a second interview just two days before Christmas.
 
Choosing to pause your job search between Thanksgiving and New Year’s is not just ill-advised; it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. In the words of hockey legend Wayne Gretzky, "You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take." If you're not actively seeking a job during the holidays, your chances of finding one diminish.
 
Employers actively recruit throughout the entire year. Many new positions are allocated to commence with a new budget year, often coinciding with the start of a new calendar year. Additionally, some hiring managers operate under "use it or lose it" constraints, necessitating the utilization of hiring budgets before the year concludes. These situations present viable opportunities for job seekers in December.
 
The holiday season provides natural occasions to network and publicize your job search. Company parties, social gatherings, end-of-the-year professional association events, and even Christmas cards and letters can serve as effective avenues. These strategies are applicable whether you're currently unemployed or employed but seeking an improvement in your professional situation.
 
Engaging in your job search during the holidays might also mean encountering less competition from other candidates who suspend their efforts. Many individuals postpone their job search until January, often as a New Year’s Resolution. If you commence or resume your job search on January 2, you'll be contending with a larger pool of candidates.
 
Connecting with a hiring manager could be more straightforward in December, as many key personnel remain in the office while lower-level staff take paid holiday time off during the month.
 
Even if you don't secure a job in December, laying the groundwork by establishing connections before the year concludes increases the likelihood of a swift hiring process in the new year.

11 Ideas for Job Searching During the Holidays

Here are some specific strategies you can use in your holiday job search.

• Accept all invitations you receive for holiday parties and get-togethers. Whether it’s a social or charity event, dinner party, spouse’s Christmas party, or professional association event, use these opportunities to network your way to your next job 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. Revive your personal network, 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 doesn’t 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 shouldn’t be the focus of your party, of course!). However, extending an invitation is a great excuse to reach out and talk with someone you haven’t spoken to in a while! 
• Ask 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 the mood to be generous at this time of the year!
•  Volunteer. 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 resume.
• 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 you’re currently unemployed, or your position is ending) can be a useful strategy. Let people know you’re looking!
• Create a business networking card. Develop a business card that lists your contact information 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 you’re unemployed.
• Update your social media presence. If you don’t 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? Make sure you have a good LinkedIn Headline.
• Look for opportunities to get your foot in the door. If you’re currently unemployed, look for temporary job or search online for seasonal jobs near me that may lead to full-time positions.
• Connect with recruiters. Work with a recruiter to diversify your job search. 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. If a recruiters calls you randomly, be sure you are aware of the dos and don'ts when the recruiter calls.
• Set a specific goal for your job search. Instead of setting 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 you achieve your goal of a new job.
• Make sure you’re reachable. You might be asked to interview at unusual times — for example, the day before Christmas. Keep your phone on — and make sure you’re checking your voicemail and email regularly!

Challenges To Overcome With a Holiday Job Search

Conducting a job search in December isn’t without its challenges. Don’t be surprised if you don’t hear anything back right away. 

While some hiring managers are hard at work throughout the month, others may be on vacation.  Many people use their accumulated vacation time before the end of the year and this may be a reason why you may find yourself waiting a bit longer than usual for a response to your resume or follow-up after a job interview. Some companies also close during the week from Christmas to New Year’s Day. Be patient, but persistent.

A busy holiday-focused schedule 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 you’re not careful.

Check your attitude, too. The holidays are a season of joy and thankfulness, but that can be tough when you’re out of work. However, it’s important to maintain a positive attitude — or at least “fake it until you make it.” Your negative attitude impacts your career. So, even if you’re not feeling it, “act as if” you are, because employers want to hire positive, optimistic employees.  

Also, don’t overextend yourself during the holidays. Be sure to exercise, get enough sleep, and eat well.

Moreover, watch out for holiday employment scams. In your desire to make extra cash for the holidays, don’t 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 haven’t done yet. Also, never deposit a check into your account and wire or transfer payments out before the payment has fully cleared (wait at least two weeks).

If it’s your goal to find a new job in the new year, don’t put off your job search just because it’s the holiday 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.

SOURCE: https://www.market-connections.net/blog/holidays-job-search-strategies​

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About the Author

Mandy Fard is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW, CMRW) and Recruiter with decades of experience in assisting job seekers, working directly with employers in multiple industries, and writing proven-effective resumes.
 
Feel free to connect with Mandy Fard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mandyfard/
 
Please follow Market-Connections Resume Services on LinkedIn:
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