As the holiday season draws in, it’s easy to get distracted by all the festivities going on around you and your job hunt will often get placed on the back burner. It’s a busy time of the year and it’s a common misconception that hiring managers won’t be making any new hires over Christmas, however this isn’t necessarily true and it could actually be a really good time of the year to rev up your job search a bit.
With the new year approaching, not only would a new job make a nice fresh start for you, but employers are also focused on reaching their business goals and would also like the peace of mind that there will be someones sitting behind the desk come January.
If you’re unsure about whether to continue your job search over Christmas, here are a few reasons that you would be silly not to!
1) There’s less competition
A lot of job seekers will put a halt to their job search over the holiday period, due to their busy schedules or the false impression that companies will not be hiring over Christmas. So if you’re looking for a job in a competitive field, now is your time to get one up on your competition, while the number of applicants is down.
2) Business continues
Just because a lot of us think of the holiday season as a time to take a bit of a break and slow down, that doesn’t mean that business comes to a stand still. Hiring continues regardless of the time of the year and the end of the fourth quarter may even be a particularly busy hiring period, as a lot of companies feel the pressure to finalise any new hires before the new year due to business and financial goals.
3) Christmas parties are networking opportunities
The Christmas period is jam packed with social events, from big bashes to festive dinners, so what better opportunity to get networking? You never know who you’re going to meet at one of these dos, so get talking and discuss your job search and career plans with people, as they may be able to point you in the direction of a great opportunity.
4) Prevent a job search rut
If you slow down your job search over the holidays, it could make it difficult to get back into the swing of things once you restart it. By continuing your hunt, you’ll keep the momentum going and won’t miss out on any opportunities that arise during this time.
5) Make the most of the time off
If you’re already in a job it can be difficult to find the opportunity to work on your job search, so the Christmas break may actually be your perfect opportunity to dedicate some time to it. If you have any days left to use of your annual leave then make the most of them to update your resume and get some applications sent off.
6) Reconnect with existing contacts
The holiday season is a good opportunity to touch base with old networking contacts, recruiters and previous employers to wish them happy holidays, as well as provide them with a little reminder that you exist. Dropping them a line on LinkedIn or arranging a catch up could lead to progress in your job search.
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