12/12/2022
Top Reasons to Keep Job Searching During the Holidays
Employers are Hiring. Don’t think for a minute that companies aren’t hiring. Check the job boards, like Indeed, Monster, CareerBuilder or Dice, and you will see thousands of available jobs that employers need to fill now. Be sure to check the leading job sites regularly so you don’t miss out on job leads.
Less Competition for Available Jobs. Even though you might really need a new job it can be hard to manage a job search when there are so many other things happening during the holidays.
For some people, it’s easier to focus on the season not the job hunt. That’s fine, of course, but if you are a juggler who can multi-task you’ll find less competition for jobs. That could be a chance for an interview that you may not have got during another time of year because the candidate pool was more competitive. Keeping your job search organized will help you manage multiple priorities.
More Networking Opportunities. You couldn’t pick a better time of year for networking. There are many social and business holiday functions during November and December when you can connect with people who can help your job search. Not sure how to do it? Here are tips for holiday season networking when you’re job searching.
Don’t be shy. Most people are thrilled to have the opportunity to pay it forward by helping you out – especially during the season of giving. Consider getting a business card made with your contact information and the URL of your LinkedIn page, if you have one. Bring a supply with you to give to the people you meet at networking events and holiday parties. Have an elevator pitch ready so you can quickly share information on your background.
Salary and Benefits in Place for the New Year. It’s always good to start January with your life in order, if you can. Having your compensation set for the year not only helps pay the bills. It also helps with budgeting and tax planning.
A Temporary Job Could Become Permanent. If you are hired for a temporary holiday season job, you could get to keep it. Companies typically keep some of the temps they hire for the holiday, and you could be one of them if you make a good impression on your employer. Here’s information on temp to perm jobs.
You May Be Able to Negotiate a Start Date. Start dates can be negotiable. Two weeks is typical if you are giving notice to your current employer. You may be able to extend that out to a later date, especially if there are Thanksgiving or Christmas holidays when the business is closed. That would give you a bit of extra time to move a start date back. Here’s how to respond to interview questions about when you can start working, and here are tips on how to negotiate a start date for a new job.
On Demand Hiring
Hiring used to be seasonal. Now it’s on-demand. If a company decides that they need a new employee or if a current employee moves on, they won’t wait to start the hiring process. If you’re hiring ready, you’ll be positioned for job search success.
Don’t miss out on good jobs because you have decided to stop your job search. Even if you cut back your job search activities and spend less time you’ll still be positioned to get hired – and it’s always better to get hired sooner rather than later!