With Thanksgiving almost upon us, many of us are putting our feet up and preparing for the holidays.
Though you should not neglect your family during the holiday season, you also should not use the
holidays as an excuse to put the job search on hold. With the spirit of giving in the air, you may find
yourself receiving the gift of gainful employment… if you take care of your end of things.
First, keep doing what you’ve been doing. Check your LinkedIn, update your Facebook, and keep on
Tweeting. Social media is still big during the holiday season, so keeping your posts rolling! You don’t
have to stay glued to your computer or phone, but checking in once a day will not hurt.
Similarly, you don’t want to fall off of the networking map. If there are networking events for job
searchers, check them out. Keep the normal channels open, but also don’t be afraid to get a little
creative with your networking. The holidays are the one time of the year where sending pictures of you
and your family via mail to acquaintances is widely encouraged. Holiday cards can be a great way to
remind people of you. Think of holiday cards in the same vein as thank you cards. They are both easy,
and feel very personal and kind. Sending a potential employer a thank you card could land you an
interview in the coming year.
During the holiday season the best networking method may be volunteer work. As the weather gets
colder and the spirit of giving wafts through the air, people of all demographics start trying to give back
to the less fortunate. Signing up to serve meals on Thanksgiving or Christmas may do more for you than
you would expect.
Volunteer altruism feels great. Being able to see a difference you are making in the world is a beautiful
experience. This is why so many people volunteer this time of year. Everyone from entry level newbies
to powerful C.E.O.’s are known to do their part this time of year. Though it may seem strange to
volunteer with the idea of networking, it is important to note that you will get something out of the
experience regardless of how much networking you actually get done.
Above all, remember that companies do not close for the entire holiday season and are often looking for
new employees during this time. Job seekers, however, often give up for the month of December. This
means the competition is weakened, and the opportunities are still out there. If you, instead of slowing
down, speed up your job search in December- your odds of landing a job have nowhere to go but up. So
keep up the good work, and maybe you’ll be given the gift of employment! Happy hunting and happy
holidays!