Getting your player ready...
Many job seekers are tempted to slow down their job search during the winter holiday season. But career experts say that taking a break from your job search during the holidays is a mistake – because hiring doesn’t stop.
At the end of the year, some companies rush to fill job openings that might otherwise be removed from next year’s budget. Still other companies will be looking ahead. “Jobs that might have been on hold until budgets are in place will become available in January,” says career expert Kimberly Bishop, author of “Get Down to Business and You’ll Get the Job.” Roy Cohen, an executive coach and author of “The Wall Street Professional’s Survival Guide,” agrees. “There’s a belief that recruiting shuts down during the holidays,” he says. “That’s a myth – so when other people take off from their job searching during the holidays, you’re at an advantage.” Here’s how to make the most of your holiday-season job search: Be flexible: Judi Perkins of FindthePerfectJob.com says, “When I was a recruiter, the holidays were one of my busiest times, and I was often on the phone either side of Christmas.” Be prepared to interview at unusual times, to allow for a recruiter’s or hiring manager’s busy schedule. Do volunteer work: All sorts of philanthropic organizations ramp up activities during the holidays – and volunteering can be a great way to network, gain skills and fill the gap that unemployment might otherwise leave on your résumé. Seek seasonal jobs: “The most obvious opportunities are in retail sales or retail-related positions,” Bishop says. “There are a variety of part-time and temporary jobs that range from sales and customer service to merchandising, stocking, greeting, gift-wrapping and playing a role in special in-store events. The hospitality industry also offers opportunities. “Hotels, restaurants and caterers have more events and parties, so they need to staff up,” she says.
