Blog Post: Why The Holidays Are Perfect For Job Hunting

It's easy to get caught up in holiday fever this time of year, concentrating on family, travel plans, holiday decor, and all the traditional festivities.

But for those in the know, there's another form of "magic" in the air this season--because the holidays are PERFECT for job hunting.

Don't believe anyone who tells you to just lie low until January, and that employers don't hire right now.

Each year, there are plenty of reasons that the holidays are the best time for a job search, including these 3 advantages:

1 - There's a TON less competition for jobs--even this year.

Shhh! Don't tell your peers, but the law of probability is at work during the holiday season. With less applicants in circulation, you'll gain a much stronger reception from employers.

Job searching, according to the masses, is best done from January to May. However, you can quietly get in front of everyone else by being prepared and ready to land the perfect job long before your colleagues catch on.

So, don't wait for January! Prepare your resume, get in top interviewing form, and dust off that interview suit, just in case Santa comes early with a new job for YOU.

2 - Ample networking opportunities are everywhere.

Your next job lead could come from the literally dozens of people you can meet--some of them key decision-makers, or those with access to them--at holiday events.

Remember that networking is all about developing relationships that will produce business contacts. Focus on how you can introduce yourself and WHO you can get to know, rather than on your job situation, thus turning nearly any community, family, or business event into a networking opportunity.

To maximize your efforts, seek out and engage both the leaders in your desired industry plus prospective colleagues who might work at your ideal employers.

Get in the right mindset by thinking about the long-term effects of building these relationships, and how they can help your career over time.

This is also the perfect time of year to polish an "elevator speech" that tells your new contacts who you are professionally and the type of results you gain in your work--ensuring that you'll be ready for any potential introductions to insiders at your target companies.

3 - End-of-year budgets and hiring needs are all working in your favor.

While the myths abound as to how employers don't hire during the holiday season, many still have business needs (some even more so) during the last 2 months of the year.

Some corporations operate on an annual hiring budget, meaning there might be a hiring manager who needs a well-qualified professional before year-end. Of course, if you continue your search efforts, YOU might be in prime position to land this job!

So go ahead and ignore the conventional wisdom, putting yourself out there no matter what the season. Strong companies are always on the lookout for great candidates, and that includes those diligent enough remain focused on a job search, despite the activities of those around you.

Continue to market your skills and network with the end goal in mind, and you could find yourself ringing in the New Year while starting a new job.