We are often told we should step back from the job hunting during the holiday season. Friends will caution, “No one is hiring.” I’d like to suggest another approach – to continue with these very important job search tips that will help keep your momentum going. When the New Year comes through, you’ll be ready to compete in this new job market – or you may be starting a new job in the new year!
Be Prepared & Think Positively
Think positively about your job hunt. Be prepared emotionally to talk with business connections, particularly when you need to explain the reason you are in transition. Search for a way to speak dispassionately about your current job loss. Be sure to include a future statement in your explanation, so one can see your dedication to your career goal. Paint a picture of what you desire, rather than what you don’t desire and focus on what you can bring to the table.
The Law of Attraction states that we attract what we focus on. Be ready to provide several examples of what you’re looking for when describing your ideal job. Here’s a possible example: “Our department is just one of several that were downsized. I plan to use the skills I learned as a Project Manager to get a better position. This time, I’ll be looking for a vendor organization so that I can learn more about the sourcing side of the business.”
To think positively about job hunting, you may need to “drown out” all the negativity in your thinking or work them out physically through working out or exercising. You will have to upgrade your thinking and gradually move to a more positive place.
Continue Networking & Building Key Contacts
Attend holiday parties and be prepared to talk about your job search. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 70 percent of all jobs are found through networking. Dinner parties and other events are a great way to identify and source out new professional connections! Continue networking on a business level, and by all possible means, attend parties during this season even if you aren’t quite in the party mood.
There are some professional organizations that even provide “free” holiday parties to recruit new members. Be sure to prepare what you will say and keep business cards on hand so you can readily provide your contact details, including your LinkedIn profile link. If you do not have a business card to ouse while job hunting, take advantage of the printing specials and get one immediately.
Improve Your Resume
Polish and refine your resume. Use holiday time to create or refine your resume. A professional resume writer knows exactly what it takes to set you apart from the competition. Take advantage of the holiday season to get your resume completed and updated. Make sure your resume contains the same keywords used in the job descriptions for which you are applying. For example, if you are seeking a job in marketing, you may want to consider changing the words “advertising” and “public relations” in your resume to “marketing.” Also consider shortening the language and bumping up the font size to at least an 11-point font. Make it easy to scan through for information.
Prospective hiring managers are always very busy. Make sure they can find out all there is to know about you in a few seconds. The top one-third of the resume is prime real estate. This is where you will summarize all you have to offer as concisely as possible. Provide a brief paragraph of an executive summary of your top qualifications. Be sure you can answer questions and elaborate about anything on your resume.
Research High Demand Jobs
A great tip for securing a job quickly would be to analyze the trends for in demand careers to identify what the hot jobs will be for 2018. Analyze your skills against the skills required for these in demand careers and if there is indeed an alignment, edit your resume and marketing documents accordingly. Because yes, Human Resource Managers, Recruiters, Headhunters and companies are still searching for great talent in the month of December! You just need to show them that you can help them start the new year off right with you on board.
“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”
–Eleanor Roosevelt
