Job seeking during the holidays: use the time to research and prepare

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In an effort to convince you to ramp up your job search efforts during the holidays, I’m sharing ideas and insights from some of my colleagues and friends during this holiday week and next. Today, I am happy to share some insights from my colleague and fellow Career Collective member, GL Hoffman. GL is Chairman of JobDig and writes at www.whatwoulddadsay.com, JobDig.com, and is a weekly guest writer at US News and World Report.

I’m not surprised that GL’s advice includes a reference to his job board, LinkUp! I often refer candidates to review LinkUp as a tool in their job search arsenel. If you’re keeping up with this series, you’ll note a similarity between Walter Akana’s advice in part 2 and GL’s today – it may not matter if there are jobs to be found out there right now. What matters is that you are out there looking for them!

GL shares his suggestions:

Everyone says the holidays is a terrible time to search for a job. This may or may not be right. Companies may have identified some new initiatives for after the new year, for example, and are starting now to identify some quality candidates. Often, the FIRST place these jobs show up is on the company’s own website, inside their career page. Of course, www.LINKUP.com is a fantastic place to start because only jobs from company sites are there. Think of LinkUp as the only true job search engine.

For those who are convinced this IS a bad time of year, what better time than to sharpen your skills and identify exactly the companies you want to work for.

If you do send out resumes during this time, always a sure fire way to spice up your resume and cover letter is to actually DO SOME RESEARCH ON THE COMPANY. Or, you can do research on any issue that is being confronted by the company.

And then, REFER to this issue in your cover letter. This technique will move you to the top of the pile.

Some may say…what exactly do you mean?

Like: “I noted that the city is dropping local waste service for your manufacturing plants, here is how I would have responded…”

The OBVIOUS thing is that it does NOT make any difference what the issue might be, or if you comment is even particularly noteworthy. Your investment in time alone will elevate your standing.

I appreciate this take on the subject – being involved in a job search is about more than just looking for opportunities; it is also a matter of connecting what you have to offer with what the organization needs. If, in fact, your industry is so slow now that no one is even in the office and networking is totally futile, take some time to do some research. You can still propel your search forward and be up-to-date when the time is right.

Are you relaxing or revving up your job hunt during the holidays? Share in the comments!

Part 1 – My suggestions and a free ebook offer

Part 2 – Walter Akana – take care of yourself

Part 3 – Anita Bruzzese – Stay ahead of the crowd

Part 4 – Jacqui Barrett-Poindexter – Unplug and embrace rest

Part 5 – Wendy Enelow – Ideas for employed and unemployed job seekers

I can help with every part of your job hunt! Need a great resume? Tips to use social networking? Interview coaching? If you need help mobilizing your networks and your job search plans, learn more about how I can help you! While you’re at it, don’t forget those social networks! Be sure to become a fan of Keppie Careers on Facebook…I’d be thrilled to have you as part of the community! Since we’re on the subject of doing something new…Are you on Twitter? Jump on and touch base with me @keppie_careers.