Have you ever been told by an employer after the first of the year that they had the perfect opening for you if only you had applied in November or December? Well, I frequently hear from job seekers that this happens to them because they put a hold on their search at this time of the year.

1. Slow Down My Job Search?
Should I Slow Down My Job Search During Holidays?
Have you ever been told by an employer after the first of the year that they had the
perfect opening for you if only you had applied in November or December? Well, I
frequently hear from job seekers that this happens to them because they put a hold on
their search at this time of the year.
With the exception of the week between December 25th and January 1st, keep up the
job search pace and don’t wait until January to initiate a new career campaign if you are
seeking a new position. You may miss many opportunities during late November
through December. You don’t want to kick yourself later saying. “I could have been
hired, only if…..” Companies that are considering hiring campaigns in the new year
(January through March are the months with highest hiring average) start now with their
strategies, posting positions, and gearing up hiring agents and staff to start the resume
review and interview process.
If you don’t have time to continue your job search strategies in full force during the busy
holiday time, consider these as must “dos”:
1. Continue networking
People tend to be more social around the holidays and networking is key. Use holiday
parties and other social events to keep in touch. It could be as simple as a

2. neighborhood get together, professional association holiday party or your favorite sports
group potluck. There are always plenty of holiday celebrations and fundraisers where
you can create new connections and nurture ongoing friendships. Social events are
great opportunities to connect and could lead to job opportunities in the future.
2. Give back
Especially at this time of year think of ways you can help others. Look for occasions to
connect people with one another, or with a charity or foundation that may appeal to
them. Be a resource by forwarding an article, white paper or special report that contains
valuable information (business or personal) that would be appealing to your
connections. This can make you memorable as a “go-to” person who is helpful.
3. Career tune-up
Is your resume up-to-date? LinkedIn profile fine-tuned and keyword searchable? Do you
have your career action plan in order? Do you have your interview techniques and
salary negotiation points practiced and perfected? Do you feel confident and prepared?
Now is a good time to look at these questions carefully and put steps into place to take
action.
Don’t wait until January and take the chance of being left behind your competition.
Continue preparing and moving forward with job search strategies through the end of
the year. You have time to take advantage of last two months of 2015. When the
holidays are over, and you are face-to-face with 2016, you will thank yourself for being
proactive as compared to your peers who are unprepared to jump into the new year.