| Every year as the holidays approach, most
| |
| | * It was great speaking with you. I'll
|
| jobseekers and career changers make the
| |
| | follow up as we discussed.
|
| mistake of halting all their efforts.
| |
| | 5. VOLUNTEER
|
| They believe there is no point in
| |
| | There are more volunteer opportunities
|
| pursuing new opportunities during the
| |
| | around the holidays than at any other
|
| holidays, and that nobody is making
| |
| | time of year. This is a good way to help
|
| hiring decisions until January, so "why
| |
| | other people, feel good when you need a
|
| bother?" Many decide to do absolutely
| |
| | boost, have a renewed sense of purpose
|
| nothing from mid-November to the second
| |
| | during your search, and meet other
|
| or third week in January!
| |
| | professionals. Volunteering also gives
|
| Making these kinds of assumptions about
| |
| | you something interesting to discuss with
|
| the holidays is, again, a huge mistake!
| |
| | the new people you meet!
|
| When it comes to the holidays, I suggest
| |
| | 6. CALL PEOPLE
|
| you become a "contrarian" - and do what
| |
| | Use the day after Thanksgiving to make
|
| all the other job seekers are not doing.
| |
| | both follow-up calls and cold calls.
|
| Since most of them are taking an extended
| |
| | You'll find that whoever is at work that
|
| break, this opens up real opportunities
| |
| | day will not only be available for a
|
| for you!
| |
| | conversation, but will be grateful to
|
| The reality is that the holidays are an
| |
| | speak to someone! If there are people who
|
| excellent time to develop and create new
| |
| | you've been having a hard time reaching,
|
| contacts for your job search or career
| |
| | be sure to take advantage of this unique
|
| transition. Many companies are completing
| |
| | opportunity.
|
| their budget planning for the next fiscal
| |
| | 7. SEND HOLIDAY CARDS
|
| year. This is often the best time to get
| |
| | Pick a seasonal, nondenominational theme
|
| in front of hiring managers to create a
| |
| | - usually a depiction of a winter scene
|
| position for you next year. Many managers
| |
| | is best. This is the time to send cards
|
| have to fill openings early in the year
| |
| | to everyone on your "career list,"
|
| or they may lose the budget for that
| |
| | including executive search firms, Human
|
| position. Also, once year-end bonuses are
| |
| | Resource professionals, and hiring
|
| paid, a predictable percentage of
| |
| | managers with whom you have interacted
|
| employees will leave their jobs, creating
| |
| | over the past year. Don't write about
|
| new vacancies!
| |
| | your job search in the card. Send your
|
| Here are 10 career-savvy tips for the
| |
| | cards early enough for people to remember
|
| holidays from Ford R. Myers, President of
| |
| | to invite you to their holiday
|
| Career Potential, LLC, an executive
| |
| | get-togethers, and to send you a card in
|
| career consulting firm based in Radnor,
| |
| | return! Be sure to include your contact
|
| PA:
| |
| | information with the card, so the
|
| 1. IT'S ALL ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS
| |
| | recipient can also reach you.
|
| Business is all about establishing
| |
| | 8. 'TIS BETTER TO GIVE THAN TO RECEIVE
|
| relationships - and relationships are
| |
| | Remember the old saying popular at this
|
| developed in social settings! During the
| |
| | time of year, "Tis better to give than to
|
| holidays, most people are naturally more
| |
| | receive." This is certainly true when
|
| convivial and generous in spirit. There
| |
| | you're attempting to connect with people
|
| is simply no better time to solidify
| |
| | during the holidays. The fastest and most
|
| existing relationships and forge new
| |
| | effective strategy for getting help is
|
| ones!
| |
| | "give to get." Ask the people in your
|
| 2. TUNE IN TO THE NETWORK
| |
| | network if you can be of help to them in
|
| There are many networking events in
| |
| | any way, or if there is anyone who they
|
| November and December - in your social
| |
| | might like an introduction to. Become a
|
| life, in your community, and in your
| |
| | real "connector," and in turn, you will
|
| professional circles. Think of all the
| |
| | become "connected!"
|
| companies having holiday parties. Many
| |
| | 9. PLUG IN AND TURN ON
|
| charities have their last fundraisers of
| |
| | Technology has come a long way. Use the
|
| the tax year in November and December.
| |
| | holidays to connect and reconnect with
|
| Book sales, holiday fairs and other
| |
| | people on business networking web sites,
|
| celebrations make this the best time of
| |
| | such as and Connect with local
|
| year for productive networking!
| |
| | businesspeople in cyberspace and then
|
| 3. SMALL TALK REAPS BIG BENEFITS
| |
| | take your connection "live" with a
|
| Most professional associations have a
| |
| | face-to-face meeting. You can also use
|
| holiday party for their December meeting,
| |
| | these web sites as a great system to
|
| with a more informal atmosphere than the
| |
| | follow-up and keep in touch!
|
| formal presentations held throughout the
| |
| | 10. BECOME AN OPPORTUNITY MAGNET
|
| rest of the year. Do not bring a resume
| |
| | At holiday time, some jobseekers tend to
|
| to these events. Create a simple,
| |
| | become overly negative or cynical during
|
| tasteful business card with your name,
| |
| | what they perceive as a "lull" in their
|
| phone number and e-mail address. Be
| |
| | career transition. Don't fall into this
|
| prepared to make interesting small talk
| |
| | trap. Get into positive action precisely
|
| to establish new contacts. Ask the people
| |
| | when others are "giving up" until early
|
| you meet about themselves, their work,
| |
| | next year. Think and speak positively,
|
| and their interests. Remember, everyone's
| |
| | and you'll become a magnet - ready to
|
| favorite subject is "themselves!"
| |
| | attract, interview, and "hire" your next
|
| 4. CONVERSATION STARTERS AND STOPPERS
| |
| | employer.
|
| Prior to a social or networking event,
| |
| | If you're currently in career transition
|
| prepare at least three neutral questions
| |
| | or looking to move-up at your
|
| you can ask, such as:
| |
| | organization, these strategies should
|
| * How do you know the host, the company,
| |
| | give you a new perspective on the
|
| etc.?
| |
| | holidays! Instead of "taking a vacation"
|
| * What made you decide to come to this
| |
| | from your career development activities,
|
| event?
| |
| | take full advantage of this overlooked
|
| * What other organizations in this
| |
| | opportunity to make real progress in your
|
| industry do you belong to?
| |
| | quest. Then, you'll really have something
|
| When you find it's time to move on and
| |
| | to celebrate!
|
| talk with someone new, you'll need some
| |
| | _____________________________________
|
| phrases to help you transition during the
| |
| | Permission to Reprint: This article may
|
| event. Here are some good "exit lines:"
| |
| | be reprinted, provided it appears in its
|
| * I'll let you go now, so you can
| |
| | entirety with the following attribution:
|
| continue circulating around the room.
| |
| | Copyright © 2006, Ford R. Myers and
|
| * I'll stop monopolizing your time so you
| |
| | Career Potential, LLC.
|
| can meet some other folks.
| |
| |
|
