Job seekers should keep applying through the holiday season, career coach says

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While it might be tempting to hit the brakes on a job search over the holidays, one career coach says December might be the perfect time to hunt for a new gig.

“You do not want to be putting a pause on your job search through the month of December,” career coach and author Michelle Schafer said. “The main reason for that is because this season has so many opportunities to be able to reach out and talk to people.”

Schafer joined 580 CFRA’s At Work with Patricia Boal on Friday to share some insights on job hunting through the holidays.

Leverage your network

As Schafer puts it, the job market never shuts its doors, even over the holidays, and December offers plenty of opportunities to build new connections.

“What I find this time of year is that people tend to have more time on their hands. So, reaching out and having those coffee chats, those informational interviews, people are oftentimes more willing to do that,” Schafer said.

According to Schafer, building out a network and connecting with people face-to-face is one of the best things jobseekers can do to get their foot in the door.

“Leveraging your network, especially when you’re applying for jobs online, is the single biggest thing that anybody could do to lead to an interview,” Schafer said.

While it can feel daunting to speak about an ongoing job-hunt, Schafer says those looking for work will find it worthwhile to let others know that’s the case.

“I understand that there’s a number of individuals who want to just avoid the social gatherings at this time of year because they don’t want to talk about their job search. But you just never know who you’re talking to, that person could be a hiring manager at another organization,” she says.

For those who are currently unemployed and unsure of how to present themselves to others, Schafer suggests they let people know what kind of work they enjoy, even when they’re not certain what their next step will be.

“A great way you can answer this question is to certainly share you are looking for something new and phrase in terms of the kind of work that really fires you up,” she says.

Schafer also says there are ways to network even when applying for jobs online.

“Check on LinkedIn, see who can introduce you, or at least put in a good word for you. That way, you come as a referral versus one of one thousand people applying for the same job,” she said.

Should you wait for the “perfect” job?

While no job will be perfect, Schafer says job-hunters should look for energizing work that lines up with their values.

Whether it’s better to wait for the right fit or take a job that’s less suited for one’s career goals will depend entirely on circumstance, Schafer says.

“There are some individuals right now who are looking for work who need to find something and need to find something fast. You’ve got rent or mortgage to pay, you have other expenses, family to support,” she said. “You may not really have the benefit of waiting. You might need to take that less perfect job right now.”

Schafer says career-transitions can be multi-stepped. So, those who find themselves taking a job that’s not quite the fit they imagined, should continue to look for other employment.

“You can accept a job and just continue your search and find something else down the road,” Schafer said. “That way, you meet your financial obligation, your building some skills, you’ve got a resume building opportunity that will help you transition for something later on down the road.”

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