It's a slack-off week for many in the working world. But for Susan Tate, the days between Christmas and New Year's will be strictly business.
The Dartmouth, N.S.-based job hunter intends to work, even Christmas Day, putting together a video résumé and posting it on social networking sites. Through the week, she'll also be writing blog material on her job search for a personal website she's setting up, sending out e-mails to networking contacts and pushing to arrange meetings with potential employers.
"I am going to keep myself front and centre, and let them know that I'm eager and want them to keep me in mind," says Ms. Tate, 45, who's looking for a job as a manager in communications or business development. "I expect the holiday week will be the best time to put myself on the radar for hiring in the new year."
She's on the mark, career experts say. Keeping up the job hunt over the holiday week is a terrific tactic in a market that has more people on the prowl for employment than usual, notes Tim Cork, president of job transition consultancy NexCareer in Toronto.
It's not just job hunters who can use the final week of the year to career advantage. For those who are employed, it's a time like no other to reflect, sum up and set a career agenda for the coming year, pros say. It's also a time when managers have less on their plates, so both job hunters and employees may find it easier to get face time.
How to make the most of the week? Whether on the job hunt or on the job, here are ways to score career points:
On the job hunt |
Ask for face time
Others may be taking time off but "leaders and hiring managers are definitely going to be in their offices looking ahead to the challenges of the new year," Mr. Cork says.
They will, however, have less busy agendas and fewer immediate time pressures. So they're likely to be more willing to meet, if you just make the request, Mr. Cork says.
Your interest should get you a good hearing, he says, because "people are still in the holiday spirit and develop a mindset of giving, which means they are more willing to help and spend time with those who ask."
As well, at this time of year, "companies are looking at head counts and budgets, and your timing may be perfect to discuss how you can help them in the recovery," Mr. Cork says.
With offices emptied, you may be surprised to find those you want to meet answering their own calls, he says. Dropping an e-mail may also get you a much faster response.
This may be the one time of year when a cold-call visit to a hiring manager could get results, says Allison Graham, principal of London, Ont.-based Elevate Seminars and Strategic Development Inc. and author of Business Cards to Business Relationships: How to Build the Ultimate Network.
Showing up at the office gives you an opportunity to see the environment, meet the receptionist and maybe serendipitously get a few minutes of the manager's time, she suggests. You can also use these tactics to gain face time with other networking contacts.
Whatever you do, keep it all informal because this isn't a traditional time for job interviews, Ms. Graham cautions.
"Don't expect a lot of hiring decisions will happen between now and the end of the year. Your goal is not to land your new job over the next week. Rather it's to set the foundation, so the person has a positive impression of you so he'll move your résumé to the top of the pile," when decisions are made in January.
Reflect on what you want
Year-end is a traditional time of reflection and you should leaven your active job search with some thinking about the bigger picture of what you're after, suggests leadership coach Lorraine Clemes, president of Life Design Consultants in Toronto.
"Ask yourself: What has, and has not, been working in your search? What advice are you getting from others about trends in your field, or why they can't find a place for you right now?" Send season's greetings
