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Article #141: Top 10 Holiday Tips For Career Success

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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.






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