Should You Search for a Job During the Holidays

Richard Fruscione
Nov 26, 2018
4 min read

Many job seekers take a break from job searching during the holidays. It’s a hectic time of year, and it can be a challenge to juggle getting ready for the holidays with keeping a job hunt moving forward. But, that may be a mistake. Hiring used to be seasonal. Now it’s on-demand. If a company decides that they need a new employee or if a current employee moves on, they won’t wait to start the hiring process. If you’re hiring ready, you’ll be positioned for job search success.

Don’t miss out on good jobs because you have decided to stop your job search. Even if you cut back your job search activities and spend less time you’ll still be positioned to get hired – and it’s always better to get hired sooner rather than later!

Retirement time

Most people at or near retirement often wait until the end of the year to enjoy their senior years. Whether they turn 59 1/2, 62, 65, or 67 on a specific date during the year, many will ride off into the sunset after they are given a Christmas/end of the year bonus or just to start off the New Year officially in retirement. What does this have to do with you and your job search? For starters it means that there is an open door for someone new to come in. Here is the catch – management knows that they are retiring, but often, Human Resources will not post the position until they are only a week or two away. This gives you enough time to polish your resume, plan your networking strategies and get your foot in the door before the position is officially announced or advertised.

Companies hire all year long

Contrary to what many people think, hiring doesn’t stop during the holiday season. Employers hire when they need new employees. Don’t think for a minute that companies aren’t hiring. Check the job boards, like Indeed, Monster, CareerBuilder, or Dice, and you will see thousands of available jobs that employers need to fill now. Be sure to check the leading job sites regularly, so you don’t miss out on job leads.

A slower holiday season for some businesses means more time for hiring. It can also mean less competition for available jobs because of the number of job seekers who do take a break from their job hunt. Even though you might really need a new job, it can be hard to manage a job search when there are so many other things happening during the holidays. For some people, it’s easier to focus on the season than the job hunt. That’s fine, of course, but if you’re a juggler who can multi-task you’ll find less competition for jobs.

Keeping your job search going could give you a chance for an interview that you may not have got during another time of year because the candidate pool was more competitive. It’s also a good idea to keep your job search organized – that will help you manage multiple priorities.

Networking

You couldn’t pick a better time of year for networking. There are many social and business holiday functions during November and December when you can connect with people who can help your job search. Not sure how to do it? Here are a few tips for holiday season networking when you’re job searching.

Don’t be shy. Most people are thrilled to have the opportunity to pay it forward by helping you out – especially during the season of giving.
Consider getting a business card made with your contact information and the URL of your LinkedIn page, if you have one. Bring a supply with you to give to the people you meet at networking events and holiday parties.
Have an elevator pitch ready so you can quickly share information on your background.

Temp Work / PRN / per diem/ agency work

A temporary job could become permanent. If you are hired for a temporary holiday season job, you might get to keep it. Companies typically keep some of the temps they hire for the holidays, and you could be one of them if you make a good impression on your employer. Here’s information on temp to perm jobs. Agencies need many vacancies filled by travelers who tend to go home for the holidays, which opens up the door of opportunity to impress your new boss and possibly get hired permanently.

The holidays and the job search are both equally stressful. The financial obligations and the lack of time to prepare for wither can make it even more stressful. While I am not one to finish my Christmas shopping by Black Friday, I do pace myself and keep myself on track. Your job search should be the same. Keep meticulous records of your attempts to contact a potential employer, how you followed up and what the next steps would be. Stay organized and most importantly, do not wait until January.