Job Searching During the Holidays
With December officially here, many are thinking of the upcoming holiday season and placing job searches and work-related stuff on the back burner until the new year. And while you should certainly take some time to celebrate with your family, there’s no reason to put the job search on hold. Companies like these are hiring through 2021, and job searching through the holidays will definitely give you an edge; other job hunters will fall into the trap of slowing the search until January, lessening the competition. Below are some ways to take advantage of the job search opportunities during the holidays:
Use holiday downtime
If you are job searching but already have an existing job, sometimes it can feel like you never have the time or energy to search for something better. But during the holidays, your workload at your existing job may lessen. If you work at a company where the holiday season is slow, take advantage of this extra downtime to work on your job search. This can take many forms, such as updating your resume, writing down your career goals, finding potential employers, or networking.
Network
The holidays are the perfect time to network! There are plenty of holiday events (over video-chat apps this year) to meet and socialize with new people, celebrate the holidays together, and most importantly, let them know that you are on the market for a new job.
Volunteer
Volunteering is a great way to celebrate the holidays and give back to the community. While volunteering, you also meet a wide variety of people you wouldn’t otherwise meet, which presents a great opportunity to network. You can also add your volunteering experience to your resume, which adds new work experience and shows employers that you are willing to go the extra distance to do what’s right.
Take seasonal jobs
Seasonal jobs are always available during the holidays, and are a great way to make a little extra cash. Seasonal jobs add extra work experience to your resume, as well as show employers that you are able to deal with the stress and fast-paced environment that comes with the holiday rush. And you never know, temporary jobs can easily turn into permanent ones if you impress your boss with your performance.
Balance your time
Most importantly, make sure to balance your time. If you are currently employed, make sure to prioritize your “must-do” projects to keep your current employer happy (and willing to write you a reference) and the paychecks coming, putting the job search second. If you are unemployed, you can focus more on the job search, taking advantage of your time to work on your resume, get work experience, volunteer, network, etc. However, also make sure you have spare time to celebrate the holidays with your family and take some time for yourself. After all, it’s been quite an unusual year, so even though you should keep the job search going, make sure to take some time to relax as well.