Rumor has it that searching for work over the holidays is a waste of time. These are the common complaints (and misconceptions) I hear around this time of the year:
- People are out on vacation, so it’s impossible to get networking meetings.
- Companies are holding their breath to the end of the year and don’t hire between Thanksgiving and January 1st.
- It’s the end of the fiscal year for many companies, so they will wait until next year to hire.
If this is true, then maybe it doesn’t make sense to search for work until after the holidays. But these statements don’t reflect the whole reality.
Think about this.
- People you want to network with might be open to meeting because the holidays is a an upbeat time. They are in a good and giving mood. They may also be getting fewer networking requests because too many people believe the above statements to be true.
- Holiday parties are abundant this time of the year. This gives you opportunities to connect with people in a relaxed atmosphere. Networking is about building relationships and gathering information.
- Some companies are hiring at the end of the year because they need to get you on board and ramped up so you can hit the ground running by the first of the year.
- Some companies are hiring now because it’s the end of the fiscal year. They need to get you on the budget now, not later.
- You are networking now for future jobs. If you take six weeks off of networking and other job search activities you will lose momentum and have to worker hard to regain it.
The short story is this: You can’t afford to stop looking for work during the holidays. Act as if the holidays are a great time to find a job and keep up the good work.
Advertisement
Filed under: Uncategorized
