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