Have you found yourself unemployed during the holidays?
‘Tis the season to look for a job. This is certainly not a common phrase this time of year. But that doesn’t mean you should table your job search as you belly up to the Thanksgiving spread and elbow your cousin out of the way.
Typically, January and February are two of the best months to look for a new job, however, the end of the year isn’t the worst time. In fact, you may find yourself in many situations where some impromptu networking could happen.
Related: Five Great Reasons to Job Search During the Holidays
The labor pool foolishly shrinks between Thanksgiving and New Year, but the hiring needs remain the same.
That converts to less people applying for those jobs and those individuals increase the odds in their favor. So, don’t let up on your job search.
Preparing for the New Year
In addition to continuing your job search, the end of the year is a great time to take inventory of a few things. The following is a list of things you should do before the end of the year.
- Update / Review Your Resume. If you haven’t been getting the responses you’d like from your job inquiries, it might your resume. Have you had a professional resume writer look at it? Take advantage of our FREE RESUME CRITIQUE.
- Clean Up / Maintain Your Social Media. Look at your social media accountants through the eyes of a hiring manager. Do you like what you see? Is this person hirable? A desirable employee? Make the necessary changes. Also, this is a good time add to your social media accounts if they are sparse. You can assume that anyone who is considering you for a job will google you. Google yourself and see what comes up.
- Start a blog. Write about the industry you work it. Include things that matter to you. Position yourself as a resource who knows things. Start interesting and thought provoking conversations.
- Volunteer and Part Time Work. If you are unemployed during the holidays one of the best things you can do is add to your resume by volunteering. You can add to your wallet by getting a part time job. Even if it is seasonal or not going to turn into a long-term gig, at least you are working. Even better, offer to volunteer, intern, or work part-time at a company you are really interested in working for full-time, as a way to get your foot in the door.
- Exercise. Being unemployed or underemployed is stressful, and let’s be honest, can be depressing. A great way to counteract depression and keep anxiety at bay is through exercise. Do something you enjoy that makes you feel good and will help you sleep better.
- Connect. Make a list of people you haven’t connected with in awhile and reach out to them. Try to set up a coffee or a time to chat. Let them know what type of work you are looking for. Networking is a great way to find your next job.
Happy Career Hunting! We are here for you!
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