It’s a Networking Time of Year!

Christmas time is wonderful! Time to reflect, enjoy the hustle & bustle, take in the decorations and lights… and especially if you’re in a job search… to Network!

Too often, I hear people say that with Christmas coming up there’s not much going on in their job search so they’re going to put it aside for a few weeks and enjoy the holidays. Not smart!

The holiday season is a great time to pursue your job search with new energy. Here are some reasons why and some ‘How To’s”:

There’s no better time of year to connect with family, friends, neighbors, and acquaintances. It’s expected! Everyone connects wishing each other a Merry Christmas.
The next question invariably is…
“How are you?”
A good answer is…
“Pretty good, however, I’m looking for a new job, and always looking for new networking connections.”
To which a few will reply…
”What kind of job are you looking for?
And you respond with a 15 to 30 second…
Elevator Speech
To which some will reply with…
”You ought to talk to _______!”
The last few weeks of the year are often a great time to ramp up your job search efforts. A majority of companies’ fiscal years end with the calendar year. In many of those companies, hiring managers that have an approved requisition to hire additional staff have to fill that role by the end of the year or risk having to get the position re-approved. They are motivated to get an offer out!
At the same time, many job seekers decide to put their search on hold until after the New Year. For those that still pursue positions, they are now going after openings while facing less competition! Don’t ease up, but rather ‘put the pedal to the metal’ in your search, and MOST jobs are filled through networking!
Holiday parties can be a Networking Bonanza! How often do you otherwise get opportunities to get face-to-face with so many potential contacts for leads? Attend as many as you get invited to, and seek out parties often held this time of year by professional associations, business networking groups, or kids sports teams.Your objective with each contact, is to gain more contacts. Don’t ask directly if they know of job openings and don’t mentally exclude anyone as being a worthwhile contact. You never know where your best leads will come from. Read “Who Does Your Grandma Know?” for additional help.

Christmas time is a magical time of year… and it can be for your job search as well, as long as you take advantage of the opportunities before you!

Author:

Harry Urschel has over 20 years experience as a technology recruiter in Minnesota. He currently operates as e-Executives and writes a blog for Job Seekers called The Wise Job Search.

Career Rocketeer Recommends

Tip #7: Making a List of Target Companies (MBA Highway)
The Resume Recipe: 3 Ingredients It’s Missing (MBA Highway)

Harry Urschel

Harry Urschel has over 20 years experience as a technology recruiter in Minnesota. He currently operates as e-Executives, writes a blog for Job Seekers called The Wise Job Search, and can be found on Twitter as @eExecutives.