I know you need a job and many people have told you that it’s impossible to find work in December. I disagree. Companies are still hiring and not every manager is too busy to interview a great candidate.
Want a job? I know it’s the first week of December but here are some things you can do.
- Ask. That’s right. Sometimes it is just that easy. I was at a networking event, earlier in the week, and there were a number of people in the room who were out of work. There were also a number of people in the room who were hiring. Nobody was talking about the obvious. You think — they’ll ask me to express an interest in a job if they really like me. I say — no they won’t. They expect you to be an adult, ask for an opportunity, and apply for the job.
- Offer. Lots of employees on vacation, right now. Offer your services on a part-time or contract basis.
- Inquire. Use the holiday party scene to inquire about business plans for 2012. What’s on the horizon for some of these companies? You might find that there’s an opportunity to get in front of someone next week with a way to help them achieve a business goal.
- Apply. Retail workers start to flame-out right about now. Schedules go to pot. It’s not too late to snag a retail holiday job — especially if you show up in the store looking professional, responsible, and with a completed application and resume in hand.
I like to hustle in a season when most people are taking it easy. Makes me look smarter. Makes me look like I work harder than everyone else.
Tis the season to get off the couch, get a little brave, and start hustling.
14 comments ...wanna add one?
Concur. One piece of advice I’d add is to be persistent (just, you know, sans stalkiness). Because of sundry year-end stuff (from closing the books to decorating for the company party, random colds striking decision makers down, etc), tis the season for ball-dropping.*
I’m guilty of it, sure. There are candidates who I haven’t gotten back to, or scheduled, quickly enough, because the manager was out sick, and their back-up got run over by a reindeer and _their_ back-up was burning off vacation time while _their_ back-up was trying to close enough deals to make quota and pay off her Christmas shopping. When it becomse a logistical nightmare to simply book an interview, sometimes things bog down.
So: be very, very flexible with the companies you’re talking with. Show a bit of sympathy & humor (this goes a long way – us recruiters will start to like you, and that’s a very, very, very – very – good thing). Check in every once in a while: this is not permission to pull an Occupy Company’s Lobby kind of thing, but an e-mail once a week is fine.
All that said, on the concur piece: I’ve had two candidates hired in the past week, and one of my clients is prepping an offer to a third candidate. Each situation took longer than usual, what with all the turkey eating and such in November, but the candidate hung in, showed grace & flexibility, and are, well, getting jobs in December.
*See what I did there?
I like the asterisk. This is also excellent advice. And congrats on the hires!
Thanks!
Tru dat,
I am one of those lucky employed job seekers since I am looking to claw my way out of middle management. I’ve had 3 interviews since November and my group is also looking to hire someone.
That is awesome. Congrats on your interviews.
Ahh but on the flip side, I saw conversations die on the vine when, at great holiday party opportunity, the conversation segued into “so, what do you do”, and once the questioner found out I was looking, ended the conversation within 1.5 sentences.
Its a crap shoot, and when your area has 10% unemployment, its nice to make connections, but its still dog eat dog.
PJ
Life is dog-eat-dog and sometimes questioners will be rude. You could say, “I’m in [x industry]. I’m looking for a job — but not tonight. Tonight I’m just here as a guest. How are you connected to [x organization]?”
Or something like that.
Good luck!
Agree. The start date on one of my jobs was Dec 18.
The end of the year/holidays are actually a good time to job hunt and recruit. Take into account corporate behavior. Yes things slow down, yes people start taking time off, ….but on the other hand, the traveling decision makers tend to stay close to home, and budgetary practices ofttimes take drive a “use it or lose it” behavior (e.g. $, & reqs) and there is an incentive to hire, and time opens up to take calls and interview.
What happens when the staff thins out for the holidays including managers is that a skeleton staff materializes, including the duty executive(s)/managers. Someone’s got to baby sit. And in a slower pace those managers will take a call that when things were moving fast, they’d delegate or ignore.
Someone said persist. When I was recruiting, I kept chasing an executive who had mastered the art of dodging contact. when the holidays rolled around I tried again, and he took the call. He told me he took it because I persisted, and also as he explained, he was the “duty executive”, the only one around for that week, so he had time on his hands. While I ultimately didn’t land my candidate, I did get him interviews and he came close (til they decided they wouldn’t add headcount for that role).
Oh, and where I work, we are actively hiring..in Dec. interviewing in Dec right up to the holidays & will make offers in Dec. Those that kick back telling themselves that companies aren’t hiring around the holidays, will be aced out by those who keep on trucking.
Don,
Does your company have an office in the Bay Area? I’d love to get an interview this month!
Jamie, I’m down Houston way. What do you do for a living?
Hi Jamie. I see you visited me on LinkedIn, so I know what you do for a living. Small world, Very interesting. If you drop on to our site http://www.welkereng.com you’ll see a Marketing Specialist slot we’re looking for that appears to be very much up your alley.
But alas, I’m guessing per your note on the Bay area, that you’re committed to that venue. But look anyway.
my email is dharkness@welkereng.com
Don
Thanks for your comments, Don! I am definitely tied to the Bay Area, but that position looks like a pretty good fit.
These are some great tips for December work! Thank you for sharing and during these tough economic times, the above information you have provided is very helpful. Logic always beats emotion when times are tough.
Gail Kasper
Motivational Speaker and Author
Unstoppable: 6 Easy Steps To Achieve Your Goals