Job search momentum gathers with the amount of effort you put in a search. Ask any job seeker who has had to re-start a search and they probably will tell you it was tough to start where they had left off. Most likely their advice would be: Don’t stop.
Once your search is under way, it tends to build a source of energy that helps keep you confident. You want to keep that going, but people often stop their job search during the holidays because they think“ nobody is hiring.” This simply isn’t true.
The holiday season does bring added activities and expectations that can create an enormous amount of stress on your job search, so it helps to keep a daily agenda of the goals you want to accomplish. This you move ahead, and resist the urge to slow down for the season.
True, you may be busier than ever during the holidays, but this time of year actually can help you be more productive in your job search by providing new ways to meet people. Think of the parties, family gatherings, special holiday events and opportunities to volunteer that present themselves only at this time of year. You can use the busier pace of the season to keep your search moving.
Here’s the No. 1 reason to keep things rolling right now: The way you land your dream job is unpredictable. It could surface in the least-expected place, such as in the serving line as you volunteer to serve Thanksgiving dinner at a shelter. You have no idea who might be volunteering right next to you … or who they know.
So, you want to keep moving ahead right now. Watch for these momentum-stealers:
• Having a search that’s too narrow and eliminates opportunities to use your transferable skills. Be sure to consider jobs with different job titles, whether in your industry or a different one. Focus on the skills needed to do the job, not the title.
• Losing your enthusiasm and buying into the holiday season hiring myths. People do hire during the holidays, regardless of what you may hear to the contrary.
• Taking a vacation during Thanksgiving week. It might not be in your best interest to delay good job search time.
• Relying too heavily on one job search lead, and letting your networking activities slow or stop.
• Feeling overwhelmed because you don’t have a job-search goal, and giving up while holiday festivities are in full swing.
• Searching for a job just like your previous one. This might be a great time to do something different.
What do you think about slowing down your job search during the holidays?
