Job Searching During the Holidays – Should I Stay or Should I Go?

This indecision’s bugging me
If you don’t want me, set me free
~The Clash

The malls and stores have been decorated for over a month now, and you know the words to all of the new Christmas songs, since you have heard them a million times. You are waiting for a reply from a previous interview and wondering if it is time to shut down your job search, as nobody hires during the holidays.

You are partly right.

As referenced in my previous article, Tips for finding Seasonal Work – there are employment opportunities leading up to Christmas. But what about the month of December? Is it worth the effort to keep plugging away at finding a job?

While it is true that most employers will slow down or freeze hiring during December, there are still fantastic opportunities to network and put yourself in a more strategic position for the New Year. Think of it as an early New Year’s resolution.

During this time of year people are wrapping up things for year-end. Their focus is not completely on work, but on the holidays, friends and family. Moods are more positive and people are more receptive to chatting about what the next year may bring. Use this opportunity to connect with your targeted employers to gather information about the company, upcoming job opportunities and their hiring process.

Having this information before jobs are posted in the New Year gives you an edge over the rest of the job seekers. You will know what jobs are coming up, when they are accepting applications, the hiring process and who is doing the hiring. If you are lucky and resourceful, you may even have secured someone on the inside who can pass your resume on for you.

It’s also a good time to follow-up on previous interviews where a decision has not been made. Most companies will want hiring wrapped up before the end of the year so they can complete any paperwork, finish budgets and project future headcount. People have a little more time to chat and may be more open to longer discussions on the decision and potential upcoming opportunities. Don’t go into the New Year thinking “what if” and “I wonder if they will call” – find out now. You can then start with a clean slate in 2012.

To be prepared for the potential opportunity of marketing yourself to employers, try this exercise:  in seven words or less – describe what you do or what you can offer an employer. Think of this as your sales pitch, calling card or your brand. It’s a way to become more memorable. What I currently use for employers is “Helping employers land their next great employee”.  I couple that with a profile picture on LinkedIn of me holding a large fish (yes it’s real and I did catch it! released it too).

You can choose to stop your job search over the holidays or keep plugging away to secure your next job.  I’m not suggesting that you continue at 100%. Everyone needs some time off to relax, regroup and recharge. Just don’t completely stop, as you would be missing out on some great opportunities.

The benefits of job searching in December include:

• employers have more time to talk about current or upcoming hiring opportunities
• there is less competition, as some job seekers have given up their search until the New Year
• some companies could be hiring to use up $$ left in the budget
• the down time can be used to research employers and lay the groundwork for networking (using LinkedIn), as well as review your resume and adjust it, if you haven’t been getting interviews
• companies have a skeleton staff on over the holidays, so the odds of making a connection are higher
• besides, what else are you going to do??

So, use this time of year to your advantage. Don’t give up; keep plugging away. After all, this is your job search and you will get out of it what you put into it. Good luck in 2012. Don’t stop “taking care of business”.

And I’ll be…

Taking care of business every day
Taking care of business every way
I’ve been taking care of business, it’s all mine
Taking care of business and working overtime
Work out
~(Bachman-Turner Overdrive)

Tips to finding seasonal or full-time work – winter edition

It’s mid-October and the Christmas decorations have been in the stores for a few weeks now. Soon the holiday muzak will be playing over the speakers and a gentleman in red will be making his annual appearance at a mall near you. Some find this a difficult time to be looking for any type of work (full- or part-time) but a few tips may help you get a job or at least set yourself up to be in a better position for 2012.

While it is true that many sectors slow down their hiring leading up to and including the holidays, there are several that have some great opportunities. Anything consumer related (Retail, Hospitality, Food Service, Call Centres and Travel) are good areas to check out. Consumers are buying Christmas gifts, booking vacations, holding annual Christmas parties and stocking up on edible goodies for when family members visit.

Most of these companies have career sections on their websites where you can apply online for jobs. But time is tight before the rush and many have been recruiting for these positions since September. To increase your odds of getting hired try these few tips:

• Apply in person and speak to the manager (store, hotel or restaurant). These employers are services based so meeting in person gives you a chance to showcase how you can interact with customers/clients. It can make a huge difference for a person that has little experience or a weaker resume but presents well. Going to the location also gives you an opportunity to check out the work area, products and company culture.
• If you go in person make sure you do your research. Check out the location, know the products and review the website. Consider yourself as a “secret shopper”.
• Many of these roles pay minimum wage but offer benefits like staff discounts. If this is the case where you are applying, make sure the product/service is something that you value and can utilize. It’s okay to be selfish in this case.
• Several of these “seasonal” jobs are listed as part-time or temporary. Many times though people have ended up working full-time hours especially leading up to Christmas. While it is true that many are laid off after Christmas, several employers I spoke to have stated that if a person works out to be a great asset then they will try to keep them on (permanent work could be a result)
• Don’t shy away from making connections with employers that are slowing down for the holidays. Once the holidays are over and annual budgets are set, some employers will start hiring again. Sometimes the only edge you need is someone on the inside that can pass on your resume to the hiring manager or give you the heads up when the posting is going out. LinkedIn is a great way to do this. Many job seekers take a break over the holidays so take advantage of their inaction.
• Take advantage of local job fairs. To be successful though you need to check the exhibitors list before you go to see if there are employers that you want to meet. Don’t waste your time going to an event where the employers are from a sector you aren’t interested in. Prepare before you go.

Here are a variety of website links to employers from these different sectors that may be hiring:

• Limited Brands (Victoria Secret, Bath & Body works, La Senza)
• Transat A.T. Inc (Jonview Canada, Transat, Marlin Travel)
• Sporting Life 
• Porter Airlines
• Target Canada (opening soon)
• Discount Car and Truck Rental

Here’s hoping that 2012 will be a better year for all of us.

Good luck in your job search.
Chris