Guest post by Matthew Levy:
In prior career management articles I spoke about how to handle the salary question, the importance of attitude in The Three A’s (published in LaunchPad) and thoughts about whining. Today’s article is about job search strategies during the holidays — you know, the supposed “dead period” of the job search calendar.
Well, I don’t subscribe to this notion that the period between Thanksgiving (last Thursday in November for those outside of the U.S.) and New Year’s Day is time to shut down your job search. Far from it! In fact, let other jobseekers continue to think this way while you put your job search into overdrive to propel you to a successful landing in a new position in January.
A Great Time for Networking Meetings
While you may think potential networking partners (defined as highly connected people in your area of expertise) are too busy working on their shopping list or too busy wrapping up year-end projects at work, this is simply not true. In fact, I contend that power connectors in your field are more willing to take your networking call/meeting. Why? For one, they are fielding fewer networking requests because your competition is sitting on the sideline — so the “connectors” can accommodate you!
Second, human nature dictates that we should be more giving during this season, in this case, giving of our time and our resources. This spirit of giving is core to mutually beneficial networking, and when tapped appropriately, will surely lead to networking appointments. Lastly, I do believe that business tends to slow as more and more employees take time off. This general exhale from the business community allows you time to get yourself on others’ calendars.
Now that you are ready to hit the networking trail hard this holiday season, please make sure you network the right way.
Holiday Parties
Holiday parties are a great way to extend your network during this time of year, especially parties, events and celebrations initiated by professional organizations. You may think that a party is the last place you should be when you’re looking for a new position. Not so! Most professional organizations host holiday parties for their membership. You should be there.
Are you not a member of any professional organizations? This is a huge miss as a jobseeker. There isn’t a better way to get connected and to tap into the hidden job market than to join professional organizations in your field.
These festive parties are the perfect environment to meet people, exchange stories and trade business cards. As an aside, all jobseekers must have their own personal business cards. Sites such as Vistaprint and Zazzle offer well-made cards at reasonable prices.
A master networking friend of mine, Frank Powell, encourages jobseekers to go to events that are “target rich environments.” Frank is referring to the power connectors, influencers and regional experts who already understand the value of building and maintaining professional relationships and therefore routinely attend these events. A professional organization holiday party is the quintessential “target rich environment.” Take advantage!
Once you get involved in a professional organization, don’t just sit on the sidelines. Volunteer on a committee. Run a program. Maybe you will even be invited to join their board of directors. That way you will not only be present at meetings, you will also be front and center, like any good linchpin should be.
Companies Are Hiring!
Don’t believe the myth that companies aren’t hiring during the holidays. They most certainly are. And jobs posted at this time of year are either business-critical jobs or newly approved through the annual budget planning cycle.
While I talk extensively about the need to build a fully optimized LinkedIn profile and the importance of branding yourself using social media, I also implore jobseekers to keep their eyes on company job boards, both national and niche job boards. The equation works in your favor at this time of year: the jobs that are posted urgently need to be filled, and you have less competition while fellow jobseekers relax.
Build and Refine Your Job Search Toolkit
As the weather turns cold (in much of the country, anyway) and the nights grow longer, there are fewer distractions. There is no leaf raking and no mowing … and the days are short. That leaves more time for you to build or refine your job search toolkit. Again, while your job search competition is taking a breather, you can be working on the following:
- Building a one page bio
- Enhancing your resume (do you have a resume that dates you?)
- Crafting a target list of companies – a list of companies you want to work for – based on size, location, culture, industry
- Sending out a networking newsletter
- Honing a value proposition – your 30/60/90 second “elevator speech” about who you are and what you do
- Assembling a brag book
- How to stand out by visiting target companies
- Build your network on LinkedIn (the right way, using proper etiquette)
Recharge Your Batteries
Assuming you have powered through the holiday calendar utilizing the preceding ideas, it also makes sense for you to stop, reflect, and relax. Job search can be a marathon (and nowadays it usually is). Real running marathoners do pace themselves to be in good shape to finish the race. So, on the one hand, while I am asking you to run briskly for a good portion of this season, I also recommend slowing down for a few days so you can be rested and ready to accelerate past your competition on the second of January.
It is my hope that these few tips and others that you uncover will propel you through a successful holiday job search campaign.
This blog, It Only Takes One, has surpassed 15,000 hits, indicating a large readership, so I pose this question to you: what are some common holiday-related job search techniques you have employed? Leave your comment below!
Remember, It Only Takes ONE!
About the Author
Matthew Levy is a well-rounded HR professional and career coach with fifteen years of broad experience in both specialist (e.g., recruiting) and generalist (e.g., HR business partner) roles at blue-chip companies, including Merck, Amgen and Johnson & Johnson.
Currently, Matt works full time as a Senior HR Generalist for Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Development. Prior to J&J, Matt relocated his family to Southern California to take a position with Amgen, the world’s largest biotechnology company, where he led the talent acquisition function for Amgen’s commercial operations and corporate staff groups. Before Amgen, Matt spent several years at Merck, one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world. There, Matt held a variety of positions in both recruiting and generalist capacities.
In addition to his full time work, Matt founded a career coaching practice, Corner Office Career Coaching. Matt works one-on-one with professionals and executives providing them with customized solutions to their career challenges. As a 20-year corporate HR professional with a large network who has also successfully conducted his own effective, cutting-edge job search, he is well qualified to help others reach their career goals.
Matt graduated cum laude with a B.S. in Business Management from Ithaca College. He is an actively engaged member of several professional organizations including the Philadelphia HR Planning Society where he is on the Board of Directors and the Greater Philadelphia Senior Executives Group. He also regularly gives presentations on HR issues as well as how to manage one’s career using social media.
