Holiday Archives - The Voice of Job Seekers

9 Ways to Keep Up Your Holiday Job Search by Mark Anthony Dyson

This season is no time to slow down your holiday job search. Employers have to fill positions and some more urgently than others. Yes, even during the week of Thanksgiving, offices were slow, but this is a time to be more personable and flexible while your competition is on vacation.

For those of you who have been unemployed for some time and want to gain traction to do more than survive, consider my suggestions below:

Here are a few suggestions to give your job search a boost:

1. Bypass the fence by building familiarity.

You can extend your reach when you’re kind to everyone over the phone (yes, the phone). The know, like, and trust factor is even more achievable during the holiday job search. People are looking for ways to be kinder.

2. Friend former employer/coworker relationships.

If you left on excellent terms with your old company, reconnecting with former coworkers is advantageous for two reasons, 1) They will alert you to re-hiring opportunities or contract work, or 2) they Refer your peers and colleagues to other companies.

3. Spread your marketing to a wider net.

Social media is quieter during your holiday job search (especially after this past election cycle). The time to start sharing content, initiate conversations, and join group discussions is now.

Listen to 10 Job Search Tools We’re Grateful for This Holiday Season

4. Start a personal blog for branding now.

While it’s slow, a blog is easier to start and dedicate yourself to if you want to make moves in a few months. Not only to share on social media but also to ensure Google can show your relevance and existence by listing via search.

5. Crash Christmas celebrations.

Some of your friends, neighbors, and family can invite an extra person to their company parties. Drinking eggnog with new people can expand your network. Remember, you’re just adding to your network, not asking for referrals unless someone likes you enough. Even then, setting up a coffee meeting or phone call away from the party ensures the authenticity and sincerity of wanting to refer you.

6. Upgrade your thinking of “thank you” cards.

Gratitude is not exclusive to interviewers and hiring managers. If you want to stand out, five-dollar gift cards from Starbucks and similar shops are also valuable to the secretaries. Even if it’s a little holiday card (and not just an email) is thoughtful and memorable during your holiday job search. Sending them postal now is the best, but eGifts are easier, cheaper, and quicker to send.

Read: Your Spouse Can Help With The Holiday Job Search

7. Call in on the company’s #800.

Yep, companies still have 800 numbers! The holidays a good time for research and potentially finding the names of key people. Want to send a pain letter or a resume to a particular person? What it’s like to work for the company? Unless the company is selling or servicing holiday products, it’s slow. The representatives have to chat, trust me.

8. Add volunteer value during vacation.

Some companies volunteer at charity organizations during the holiday season. Your favorite company probably has a press release of where they are handing out toys. I bet you can join them, too, to gather intel about the business, get to know at least one or two employees and be charitable.

9. Hurry and get with a Temp agency.

Some business slows down while others speed up and look to temp agencies to save them. There are too many to name, and I guarantee they will be more than glad to help place you.

About Mark Anthony Dyson

I am the "The Voice of Job Seekers!" I offer compassionate career and job search advice as I hack and re-imagine the job search process. You need to be "the prescription to an employer's job description." You must be solution-oriented and work in positions in companies where you are the remedy. Your job search must be a lifestyle, and your career must be in front of you constantly. You can no longer shed your aspirations at the change seasons. There are strengths you have that need constant use and development. Be sure you sign up to download my E-Book, "421 Modern Job Search Tips 2021!" You can find my career advice and work in media outlets such as Forbes, Inc., Fast Company, Harvard Business Review, Glassdoor, and many other outlets.

Your Spouse Can Help With The Holiday Job Search

Do you and your spouse attend holiday gatherings held by one another’s friends and families? No? Please, reconsider. This year, see it as an job networking opportunity, and not a waste of time. It is not a time to beg for contacts or a job. Don’t use this time to survey. It is a time to become familiar with a readily available contact pool.

No expectations other than having some productive conversations. Here are my suggestions for having subtle but significant social conversations.

It’s 80-90% about them

People love talking about themselves and their successes (notice I did not say problems). Ask him or her how did they reach this part of their success? Ask them questions related to their training and responsibilities. What makes them tick? Be sure to learn first and last names, and ease up on Mr. Walker, please.

The other 10-20% is barely about you

Again, begging and pleading is a turn-off. However, helping has value that keeps giving beyond the holidays. Yes, see if there are ways to help during a party! Less is more, and when done with caution, you can dictate the terms of engagement. (Hint: If I feel welcomed by the host, and gotten to know them well enough, I volunteer to help with…garbage. Proceed with caution.) Ultimately, you can ask for more information away from the gathering preferably after the holiday.

Your spouse can go to bat for you

If you hit it off with your spouse’s co-worker, then he or she can relieve you of the grunt work. It doesn’t matter if the person will refer you to a different company or the same, co-workers unless adversaries will talk. Talk with your spouse before the party to help him or her understand that you are partying with a purpose. If your spouse is uncomfortable with that, DON’T do it!

These same rules apply to family and other social gatherings. As long as you don’t come across desperate, you can find untapped resources from the people you party with during the holidays. If you are successful in finding someone generous enough to give you names, numbers, and more still follow-up sooner than later by thanking them. A phone call is appropriate, but sending them a thank you gift is too friendly. Remember, subtlety.

I should mention that the holidays are opportunities waiting to happen. It’s slower, and call Human Resources may not be the egg hunt that occurs during non-holidays, particularly after January 1. So use the slow period to your advantage, it is the best time to network.