If you’re still looking for a job after a long bout of unemployment or are just looking for something a little different to focus your efforts on, hunting for a new position during the holidays may seem like a futile effort.
The truth, however, is that corporations are still hiring, no matter how many winter holidays you might throw at them. They still need warm bodies, from unskilled seasonal staff to highly skilled management team members.
You’ve possibly even got a leg up when you’re job hunting during the holiday season. Let’s explore job hunting during the holidays.
We Wish You an Employed Holiday!
Being unemployed during the holidays is about as disappointing as it can get in the job field, but all hope is not lost.
In fact, this can be a great time to find the position you’ve been dreaming of, believe it or not. Think about it, companies are still hiring, often for temporary positions, but for permanent ones, too.
You may have to be a bit more flexible and say yes a little bit more than you’d like, but you can generally expect some time off for holiday festivities, depending on your personal practices, and some extra cash to line your wallet, so it’s really an overall win.
Here are a few ways to make it work for you:
- Take advantage of low competition. A lot of people wrongly believe they can’t get a new permanent job over the holiday season, so they don’t even bother to try. That means the jobs that are available often have fewer applicants, depending on your field and geographical area.And with less competition, you not only will need to attend fewer interviews, you may be able to secure a bit better of a position simply due to a lack of qualified applicants.
- You’ll have more chances to network. Don’t pass up those holiday parties, even if it’s just an invite to Aunt Barb’s yearly gathering with her friends from the Senior Center.Make sure you mention that you’ve been looking for a job, the more you network and spread the word that you’re serious about finding a position in a particular industry, the more likely you are to luck across someone who knows someone who can help you out. Networking is by far the most effective way to secure a job you’ll love, so pass the fruitcake and don your ugliest sweater.
- Turn your holiday job into a full-time job. Even those seasonal jobs can become full-time jobs. Most companies retain some percentage of seasonal hires, and it might as well be you if you love what you’re doing and where you’re working.Once you get the hang of things, make your interest in staying on full-time known to your superiors and anyone else who will listen. Take any opportunities to train new skills and generally make yourself useful around the office. You’ll end up on the short list come January.
It doesn’t matter if you’re looking to become a customer service representative or Santa’s new PR guy, job hunting during the holiday season can be a really good time to improve your career prospects exponentially. Don’t give up the hunt this season, instead keep plugging along and see what turns up.
If you are looking for more information on becoming a customer service representative, be sure to visit our Answering Service Job Opportunities page.
