Question: “Why bother job searching at the holidays? It seems that nobody is hiring now. What can I do?
Reply: Abandoning your job search during the holidays may be a big mistake! It’s a potential goldmine of opportunity to connect and have some fun. This season is often the best time to meet new people, enjoy conversation in a festive environment, show interest in their work, and discuss your talents. As opportunities appear, listen intently, be genuine and ready to exchange contact info. Let people know about your willingness to work full time, part time or on a project basis.
Leave your negative story about a former job out of the conversation. You never know who plays golf with whom. If you have a case of “Dilbert Doldrums,” park it with the car. In this fast paced world of high speed connecting, you never know “how people may know each other” or who socializes with whom. As a bonus, you’ll inevitably meet a few cool people in the process
If networking isn’t your thing, try a different tactic. Scan the following 10 ideas or find a better way to get involved. Key watchwords: STAY CONNECTED!
Send a greeting card with a personalized note or holiday letter to key people in your field of interest and beyond. Tell them what you’re looking for; be specific as you ask for help. At the same time, show interest in what they’re doing. Tell them how to reach you.
Attend social events; mingle at holiday parties. Let people know what you want; stay positive about being “between opportunities” rather than “this situation stinks.”
Build a list of people you know who are positive and well connected. From that list, create your own holiday phone-a-thon and follow up early in December. Call X people every week between now and New Years. That, alone, could add 50 to 100 people to your personal marketing campaign. Tell people what you’re looking for and how to reach you.
Volunteer at a community event; help to organize or participate in church, civic groups, causes that appeal to you (soup kitchens, toys for kids, etc.)
Reach out to others (e.g. people in need, hospitalized, homes for the sick and elderly, etc). Ask people you meet during the day about opportunities they may know about.
Reach out to social groups. Be there for each other and remind people what you’re looking for…as specific as possible.
Initiate a project yourself. Find an area that interests you and a group of people you’d like to impact. By yourself or with a few others, get involved through established community organizations.
Join a local network, or support a favorite group or community cause.
Attend Job Fairs. Take advantage of planned events that focus on job search. Here’s the next local one this week.
If you have a better idea, tell us about it in the comments below. We’d enjoy hearing what worked for you. Or, if you have a question, send it to me and I’ll answer it ASAP.
