Why the Holidays Are a Smart Time to Search for Jobs

Job hunting can be stressful during the holiday season. Between parties, family gatherings and other personal commitments, it’s hard to stay focused on finding a job. If you’re like many job seekers, you’ve probably put your search on hold until after the New Year. After all, employers aren’t hiring during the holiday season, right? Wrong.

The holiday season is actually a smart time to search for a job. In fact, more than two-thirds of employers have more openings available during the months of November and December.

Here are a few more reasons why you should continue job searching during the holidays:

1. Network at Holiday Parties

There’s a good chance you’ll be invited to at least a few parties or business events this holiday season. Use these social gatherings as an opportunity to network with people who may have connections in your field.

Don’t be too pushy about it, but make sure that you bring a few business cards with you, and ask for ones in return if you connect with a potential contact. After the holiday season is over, make sure that you follow up with new contacts to keep the connection fresh.

Try to say “yes” to as many holiday party invitations as you can to maximize your networking opportunities.

2. Get a Leg Up on the Competition

Many job seekers are taking a breather during the holiday season, which means the applicant pool may be much thinner than it normally would be.

By continuing to apply for new job openings and networking, you’ll get a leg up on the competition. With fewer applicants to compete with, you’ll find it easier to stand out in the crowd and land that all-important interview.

If you’re in a particularly competitive field, the holiday season may actually be the best time to search for job opportunities as you’ll have fewer applicants to compete with.

3. Reconnect with Old Contacts

The holidays give you the perfect excuse to reconnect with old contacts and co-workers. Send an email or holiday card, or chat on the phone. Keeping these connections fresh will give you the unique opportunity to learn about hidden jobs first and apply for them before other candidates have the chance.

Who knows – you may just be the lucky recipient of an employee referral. Referrals are one of the best ways to find jobs.

4. Fewer Missed Opportunities

If you’ve been searching for a job for weeks or months, it’s easy to get discouraged. You may be tempted to put your search on hold until after New Year’s, but doing so may cause you to miss important opportunities.

No matter whether you’re changing careers, looking for your first job or unhappy with your current employment situation, taking a long break during the holiday season may throw you off track. It’s okay to take a few days or even a week off to regroup, but it’s important to pick yourself up and continue searching afterwards. Otherwise, you may just miss an opportunity to snag the job of your dreams.

Author’s short bio:

Hello,

My name is Helen Evans and I’m writing about Job/Work/Career. I like to share interesting tips to help people find their dream job. My goal is to share what I have learned about searching job. I would love to supply my high quality articles and our own interesting searches in this field. Dream job is closer than you imagine!

As a marketing manager of an employment website Jobtonic, which aims to help people find latest job offers all over the world, I have been in the career development field for 5 years. We are currently launched in more than 20 countries.

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