With the holiday season fast approaching, you are probably tempted to slow down your job search. It’s fine to take a few days off for the holidays, but you don’t want to miss out on this unique opportunity to job hunt. Use these four tips to keep your job search going full-force this holiday season:

Don’t Scale Back

It’s true that lots of companies slow down or shift their focus during December, but that doesn’t mean recruiting decisions aren’t being made. Instead of scaling your search back during the holiday season, use the same strategies you’ve used the other 11 months of the year. You might even ramp up your efforts. Since so many other job seekers are taking the month off, you face less competition and stand out in a smaller pool of candidates.

Make Yourself Flexible

The holiday season has a way of throwing schedules into turmoil. You might get called in for an interview at an odd hour, on an unexpected day, during a trip you had planned, or very close to major holidays. As much as possible, be willing to work around the interviewer’s schedule, even if you have to compromise some of your own plans. Also, be willing to wait. It may be impossible to schedule an interview until after key decision makers return to the office. And remember: Even if you are hired in early December, you might not start until after the new year.

Network at Holiday Events

The holiday season is filled with family gathering, company parties, reunions with friends, and group outings. That makes it a great time to do some networking. Without being pushy, let it be known that you are looking for new job opportunities and try to seek out the connections that are most relevant to your career path. It might only take one great conversation to find your next new job.

Volunteer

Why not show your holiday spirit and do something good for your job search at the same time? Volunteering looks great on a resume – especially if it is relevant to your career – because it shows you have initiative, character, and an instinct to give back. There are a lot of interesting and rewarding volunteer opportunities that pop up around the holiday season, and they make an impact at a time when it is needed most. Find a cause that you believe in and give as much of your time as you can.

All of us here at The Squires Group hope that you get the gift of a job offer this holiday season. Contact us for help keeping your career path on track around the holidays and into the new year.