With the hustle and bustle that comes with the holiday season, it’s an easy time of year to take a break from job searching, but that could be a mistake. The belief that hiring stops during November and December isn’t necessarily true. In fact, during the holiday season, some business operations might slow down, which means there’s more time allocated to hiring.
As a job seeker, there might be less competition for available jobs because others could be taking the ever-popular job-searching break during this time. With that in mind, here are 5 more reasons why you should continue your job search throughout the holiday season.
- An Abundance of Networking Opportunities
There really isn’t a better time of year for attending social events and business functions than over the holiday season. Don’t underestimate the power of connecting with people during these events because you never know who can help with your job search. Altruism is at its peak during the season of giving, so most people are happy to pay it forward and help others out, especially at this time of year.
- A Temporary Job Could Become Permanent
If you’re hired for a holiday season job, who’s to say that you won’t be able to keep it after the season ends? Based on performance and the overall experience of employing someone during this time, a company might retain some of the good temps they hire for the season. You can think of the role as an on-the-job interview, doing your best to showcase the value you bring to not only the job but the company.
- You May Still Get Holiday Time Off
Imagine getting hired and instantly have time off. Most companies are closed for at least Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, with the opportunity for even more downtime depending on when the holidays fall. The time of year could be a good way to ease yourself into a new job with the satisfaction of knowing you have a position to go back to after the holiday ends.
- January is Prime Hiring Season
January marks the best time for resolutions, reorganizing, and hitting the ground running. Most companies also follow this mantra, looking to start off strong right out of the gate, and for many, this can only be done best when fully staffed. If you send resumes during or before the holiday season, don’t get discouraged if you don’t hear back right away. Employers might be reviewing resumes before the holidays and scheduling interviews or making offers shortly after the season concludes.
- You Owe it to Yourself
You’re searching for a job for a reason, and you owe it to yourself to keep working at it even over the holidays. It’s never easy to stay on task when there’s Thanksgiving dinner to plan, and Christmas presents to wrap, but you’re looking for a job because you aren’t happy in your current position. Don’t lose sight of this even if the holiday cheer engulfs you because once January hits, you will go right back to that feeling of dissatisfaction.
No matter how busy the holiday season gets, don’t miss out on what’s out there. Companies are still hiring, and you still deserve to be in the role you want. Try to carve some time out in between get-togethers and family commitments to help land the job you want.
