If you are not convinced by now that job seeking during the holidays is a good idea, I don’t know what to say! Suffice to repeat – there are opportunities out there. You just need to be willing and ready to meet them.

Have you seen the Wall Street Journal’s series of blogs by job seekers? Weeks ago, when I began my “Holiday Job Search” series, I saw a post that I knew I wanted to share. One of the WSJ’s contributors, Kevin Mergens, wrote a post with a message I thought was the perfect cap to the information I’ve been sharing. Kevin wrote:

So, as the holidays approach I feel it is critical to keep things in perspective. Being an M.B.A. on unemployment stinks for both the ego and the bank account, but I am hardly deserving of any sympathy. When I was in this boat during Christmas six years ago, I remember feeling down about not having a job and then reading a local letter to Santa. The young girl that penned the letter did not ask for a doll or a video game or an iPod. She asked Santa for a coat and boots so she could deal with the Chicago winter. After seeing that, I knew my “problems” were not really that big. I decided that we could certainly afford to contribute a few bucks to the local charity that played Santa for these kids. The funny thing is, less than twenty minutes after I called in my small donation, I got a call with a job offer.

I know that some readers really are in very difficult situations after being out of work for a long time. However, no matter what, it is important to keep things in perspective. Helping someone else at this time of year is yet another way to help yourself. While most people will not land an opportunity upon offering a charitable donation, it certainly doesn’t hurt to think of those less fortunate.

Thank you for reading. If you have missed any of the great advice my terrific colleagues offered, be sure to follow these links. A very special THANK YOU to all the generous and talented friends and contacts who share advice for this series. Feel free to share YOUR ideas for job searching during the holidays 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

Part 6 – GL Hoffman – Use time to research and prepare

Part 7 – Meghan M. Biro – Use the holidays as a time for self assessment

Part 8 – Craig Fisher – Recruiters don’t ease up during the holidays – neither should you

Part 9 – Ronnie Ann – Take advantage of other peoples’ resolutions

Part 10 – Alison Doyle and Andrea Santiago – Use parties and festive occassions to fuel your job search

Part 11 – Sharlyn Lauby – Take your job search social

Part 12 – Karla Porter – Be in it to win it

Part 13 – Lisa Caldas Kappesser – Use emotional intelligence to overcome job search hurdles

Part 14 – 4 tips for effective networking follow up for the holidays and the rest of the year

Part 15 – Networking tips and advice from a variety of experts

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.

photo by Divine in the Daily