| Ho, ho, ho … Merry Job Search! What am I, kidding, you say? It's common knowledge that nothing happens, hiringwise, between Thanksgiving and New Years.
Wrong. In fact, the holidays are a great time to look. First of all, the competition is reduced, because of all the people who believe that nothing happens, hiringwise, between Thanksgiving and New Years. So they take time off from their own job search. If you don't join their little vacation club, you're likely to get more attention in a smaller pool of applicants.
Second, business does slow down, but it doesn't come to a complete halt. Amid all the shopping, partying, and general merrymaking, there's still some serious work going on. Many companies have open slots that they don't want to lose funding for next year. Those positions need to get filled immediately. Other companies are gearing up for new initiatives in 2003 and have to hit the ground running. If staffing isn't completed by the end of December, it has to be well underway at the very least.
Not every company is pumped for a new direction, but lots of them have been hunkered down for quite a while. No one knows when or to what degree, but pundits are predicting some level of bounce for our industry. Savvy companies are starting to fill the candidate pipeline now. Why not move yourself to the head of the line? Be fresh in their memories in case there's a crucial opening early next year.
Take action, call now, and...
Be Prepared
To speak directly with recruiters and company hiring representatives. Don't automatically assume you'll get voicemail or a junior lackey. This time of year, there's a good chance that the decisionmaker him/herself will pick up the phone. Lots of staff take vacation days here and there and departments are often short-staffed. This is a great opportunity that shouldn't be wasted.
Be ready to give your elevator pitch (1-2 minute summary of who you are and why you're so great) each time you make a call. Also be ready to have a short phone screening interview on the spot. You never know when it can happen. Want to maximize your chance to catch that important someone in person? Call early or late in the day.
Have in-demand skills or experience? Don't be surprised if you get called by a recruiter. They're highly motivated to achieve increased commission benchmarks through last-minute placements. This can be to your advantage as well, so don't put them off until after the holidays. Remember, it can be less obvious that you're taking time for interviews right now. Combine forces and a new job can be the best present you get.
Reach Out
Jill Henenberg, from Keystone Computer Associates (www.keystoneca.com) says, ".This is a great time to get in touch with all of your contacts and networks. Touching base to wish people happy holidays is a great way to reconnect with old contacts and let them know that you are still available."
Think about people you've met in the past, and don't forget old co-workers or supervisors when you put your list together. Whether you send a personal email message or a nice card, you can include a quick note to mention that you'd love to catch up with a phone call or over a drink. Voila! Instant painless networking!
Just make sure that you follow up effectively and keep it light. No one wants to be ambushed with a desperate plea for job search help. Focus on exchanging information and staying in closer touch in the future. Mail that resume after you've had the F2F and cleared that it's okay to send it along.
Party Smarty
There are unlimited opportunities for networking during the holidays. Between parties, community functions, school activities, and accidentally bumping into people at the mall, it's a bonanza of schmoozing. All you need to do is plan ahead.
Don't drop twenty copies of your resume into that shopping bag, but do have business cards with you at all times. If you're unemployed, invest $25 in a nicely printed personal business card, with your name, contact information (don't forget your email) and two-word career descriptor, like IT Management, Java Programmer, etc. This way, you'll have something to exchange with the people you see. (Please don't go for those free cards advertised on the web - they're immediately recognizable and detract from the image of success you're trying to project.)
Get a game plan and your game face on. In this case, the game face is to have a good time and be sincerely glad to see old friends and meet new people. It's not the direct frontal "I need a job; do you have one for me" approach. Concentrate on learning about others and their concerns. Nothing is more engaging than genuine interest.
Attend every event you're invited to. Don't let depression or embarrassment over being unemployed keep you at home. Stay in control by preparing responses to anxiety-producing questions ahead of time. This can be particularly effective in family situations.
Tell people that your search is proceeding well (even if it isn't.) Emphasize that you're looking for the best fit in your next opportunity and that you're confident about your future. Concentrate on what you're looking for rather than why you haven't found it yet. Fake it if you have to, and turn the question around to ask about the other person's business.
Work the room at each event. Don't spend too long with any one person - if the conversation is really interesting, cut it off and make plans for a follow-up meeting. Be sure to exchange business cards with people and try to get at least five or six for each hour you spend at an event. If you don't know many people there, stand near the buffet or bar and introduce yourself over the cheese tray.
Keep your head up and smile. Don't let your body language contradict what you have to say. Don't eat much and definitely keep your drinking to a minimum. It's never a good idea to have to worry about what you might have said and don't remember. A little party tip for you: always hold your drink in your left hand. That way, your handshake won't be wet and cold.
Maintain Momentum
Keep your job search focus in high definition throughout the holiday period. Don't take more than a day or two off in a row, and don't take more than two or three breaks in December.
Larry Light, www.ejobcoach.com, says "the Holiday Season is a state of mind; for job seekers who are serious, it's the right time to keep moving forward and not let their guard down. When Monday, January 6th rolls around, they'll have plenty of things working for them and not that terrible feeling in the pit of their stomachs - what do I do now to get started again?'"
More
There's one other technique for making contacts during the holiday period - volunteering. You'll be providing some much-needed help and simultaneously get the benefit of meeting new people. There are loads of groups that could use you right around now. And the rest of the year as well. If you've got extra time, please put it to good use.
Next month, I'll be listing my usual New Year's Resolutions for Your Career. Until then, write me at Jamie@jobcircle.com with questions, stories, etc. and have a joyous holiday. Peace.
Enjoy this article? Read more of JobCircle.com's Career Coach articles.
Jamie Fabian spent more than 15 years as a human resources executive before changing careers to become a senior project manager for a growing IT consulting company. Now in management consulting for a large Pharma company, Jamie would like to be seen as a hybrid of Tom Peters, Tom Jackson, and Tom Wolfe, but spends too much time working, driving carpool and watching mindless TV to write more than this column. You can contact Jamie with questions and comments at jamie@jobcircle.com.
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