Job Searching During the Holidays 5 Things You Should Know

Job Searching During the Holidays 5 Things You Should Know Job Searching During the Holidays 5 Things You Should Know If “find a new job” is on your list of New Year’s resolutions, youve probably started, or are about to start, more actively searching for a new role. Job searching during the holidays can be a tricky time to start a search for a new gig, but with a little forethought you might just be able to cross off that first resolution goal before the clock strikes midnight on December 31st. Here’s what you need to know to stay successful if youre job searching during the holidays: 1. It could actually be a great time to start searching. While it’s true that the festive spirit and vacation days might slow things down a bit (more on that later), it’s also true that a lot of companies are hiring during this time period. With most year-end budgets closed out and new year budgets set, many companies know exactly how much they can afford to pay new hires, and they know where to fill in gaps left throughout the past year as well. Be sure to stay vigilant checking job boards so you don’t miss a great opportunity. is a great place to start if youre looking for flexible work. 2. You’ll need to stay extra flexible. If you’re going to start searching for a job during the holiday season, you’ll likely need to be flexible, perhaps even more so than normal. Wacky vacation days and offices that close for the holidays could mean that you’re scheduled for interviews in the evenings or early mornings, or perhaps on a day that you have off yourself. If you really want that job, though, it’s best to just go with the flow and try to make yourself available whenever possible. 3. The competition is limited. One other reason this might be a great time to do a little job searching is that probably not a lot of other people are. That means if there’s a gem of a job available, there’s a good shot you could score it. Of course that doesn’t mean you should let your guard down when it comes to the interview and presentation process. Keep your resume polished and don’t get too cocky- be confident in your skills and abilities and back that up with real-life data, and you could be bragging about your new gig come Christmas morning. 4. Holiday events are a great way to keep an ear out for new gigs. You already know that networking is a great way to hear about new opportunities and to remain front and center in peoples’ minds when new things crop up, and the holidays are the perfect opportunity to do so. Consider all of those holiday parties you’ll be attending as great chances to hear about new jobs that you might not otherwise know about. Bring your game face to every holiday celebration this year- along with your hostess gift- and keep your ears wide open for any chatter that turns to open positions. 5. If you score a gig, they might not want you to start for a while…or they could want you to start ASAP. It’s hard to say whether a hiring company will want their new employees to get their feet wet at their job before the holiday season hits full tilt, or if they’ll be happy to let them just wait until the new year to get started. You should be prepared for either option, though, and be ready and willing to go along with whatever your would-be new employer needs from you. The holidays might seem like a crazy time to start a job search with everything else that’s going on, but really, your dream job could be right around the corner if you’re prepared. Start Your Job Search!