The Truth About Job Searching During the Holiday Season

It's that time again! The holiday season. If you are currently unemployed and searching for a new job, you may find yourself tempted to do what many job searchers do, and put your search on hold from Thanksgiving until we ring in the New Year. But if you do that, you'll be missing one of the best times of the year to look for a job. That's right! It's a myth that the holidays are a bad time for job searching.

The truth is that the holidays are a great time to increase your job search efforts. Not only will you have less competition (from all the job searchers who actually bought the myth and have taken a break from job hunting), but the holidays offer you excellent networking opportunities that you just don't have the rest of the year. And, of course, hiring doesn't just stop simply because it is the holiday season. There are employers seeking to fill key spots or use hiring budgets before the end of the year, and with other job seekers busy with holiday activities, you will be well positioned to promote yourself as the perfect new hire.

If you decide to continue with your job search right through the holiday season, there are a few simple steps you can take to maximize the returns on your time and effort.

First, remember that networking is almost always the single most effective job search technique. You will likely be invited to many holiday parties and events. Even an event for your children can be an opportunity to casually network and make people aware that you are in the job market. Job leads can come from almost any source, so make sure to attend family parties, church events, and holiday parties held by associations and civic/community groups. Of course, you should also go to get-togethers held by friends. If you can fit them in your schedule, go to them all. While socializing, the topic of work will come up. It always does. And when you are asked, talk about your job search and subtly make it clear that you would appreciate any advice, ideas, or referrals. A few days later, make certain that you follow up with everyone you spoke with. Send a thank you note to anyone and everyone who offers any help, no matter how small.

Have you lost touch with old colleagues, friends, or distant family? The holidays give you a great reason to reestablish contact with them. If you can find their mailing address, send a friendly holiday card and brief note letting them know you've been thinking of them. If you don't have a mailing address, maybe you can find the person using Facebook or LinkedIn and send them a message that way. But be subtle! There is no reason to blurt out during this first contact that you are looking for a job. Give it a couple of weeks and then contact them again, maybe to meet for coffee or to catch up by phone. Again, when you are asked about your work you can simply let them know you are in the market for opportunities and ask if they have any suggestions or might be able to think of someone that it might be helpful for you to talk with.

Of course, really effective networking is a continual activity and you'll want to nurture the contacts you have made. Now is a good time to expand the list of people that you send a holiday card to. You can include recruiters you've spoken to, employers who have interviewed you, and of course everyone that you've been meeting and reestablishing relationships with at all the holiday events and parties. Very few job seekers actually do this, so it is a great way to stand out and make yourself memorable.

Finally, consider volunteer opportunities. There are usually many chances to get out and volunteer during the holidays. Of course, any volunteer work is a great way to get out of the house and build new networking contacts. If the work is related to your actual career goals and professional expertise, all the better. As a side benefit, helping others is rewarding. Job searching is often a very stressful activity, and as you may have experienced yourself, many people have a tendency to feel down and anxious about looking for work during the holidays. Volunteering is a great way to get away from it and forget your troubles for a short time.

The bottom line: Don't buy into the myth. Keep that job search in high gear over the holiday season. You may land a new job before the New Year. But even if you don't, when January 1 comes and goes, you'll be far, far ahead of all your competition and will be top-of-mind for all of your contacts when they hear of a job opportunity.