This time of year offers special opportunities for job seekers. Holiday networking events, for example, can be great chances to meet professionals you might not encounter otherwise. Additionally, some employers are still eager to fill positions before budgets reset or headcount is finalized in the new year, making it a prime time to stand out with a strategic approach.
Here are five ways you can stand out from the competition this holiday season and find a job before the end of the year.
1. Showcase The Right Skills On Your Resume
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When updating your resume, focus on aligning your experience with the specific demands of the industry. Go beyond just listing responsibilities; dig into job descriptions to identify the core skills that consistently appear for your target roles. By tailoring your resume with these keywords, you not only capture the attention of hiring managers but also boost your chances of passing applicant tracking systems (ATS), which are often programmed to scan for these key terms. It's all about keywords!
During the holiday season, hiring managers are often managing tight timelines and high demands, making it crucial for candidates to demonstrate that they’re ready to hit the ground running. Highlighting industry-relevant skills shows you're not only familiar with the landscape but also equipped to make an immediate impact. Be sure to include examples of how you've leveraged these core strengths in previous roles to support team goals or tackle challenges (aka quantify your work experience). The holidays are hectic, so share with the potential employer how you'll be a positive addition to the team by leveraging your strengths and emphasizing your value as a business-of-one.
2. Dress The Part
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Don't underestimate the power of a great first impression. Dress for the interview in professional attire. Even if the job description mentions a casual dress code, such as jeans and a sweatshirt, it’s essential to show respect for the employer by dressing in a way that demonstrates your commitment to making a positive impression. Wearing attire that reflects your professionalism shows you care about how you're perceived and the impression you leave on others.
Not sure what to wear? We recommend dressing conservatively in clothing one level above what the current employees at the company are wearing. You want to look professional, but not like you don't fit in with the workplace culture.
3. Show Your Connection To The Company
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Employers like to hire candidates who have a passion for what they do. Why? Because when people are passionate about their work, that enthusiasm often translates into a higher level of commitment, creativity, and productivity. This intrinsic motivation can lead to consistently strong performance and a positive impact on the team and company as a whole.
In your disruptive cover letter (and during your job interview), demonstrate how and why you admire the company. Highlight what you love most about their products and services. Give examples of how you have personally used them in your own life with success. The more you can show them you understand and respect the business, the more likely you'll impress the hiring manager and move forward in the interview process.
4. Demonstrate Your Value
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It's important to remember that you're a business-of-one, and you're trying to sell the service you provide as a business-of-one to employers (the customers who will be paying you for the service).
To find a job during the holidays, you must adequately demonstrate your value as a business-of-one and highlight your strengths and the specific benefits you bring as a potential employee throughout the hiring process. How do you do this? Well, make sure to quantify your work experience on your resume. Use numbers to showcase your accomplishments. Clearly state how you'll make or save the company money with your employment. Do this, and you'll easily become one of the top candidates for the position.
5. Express Gratitude
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The holidays are busy for everyone. When you're applying for jobs during the holiday season, keep gratitude in mind. This positive mindset not only helps you stay resilient but also shines through in your applications and interviews, leaving a memorable impression on potential employers.
After every job interview, always send a thank-you note. It's just the polite thing to do, and you'll score more points with the hiring manager. Even if you get rejected, or never hear back about a position, make sure you send an email thanking the employer for the opportunity and wish them the best of luck with finding the right job candidate.
Don't be bitter. Be gracious. You never know what will happen in the future. You might want to apply for another job at the company down the line. So, don't let your frustration get the best of you. Remember: If you get rejected, they didn't say, "No, not ever." They just said, "No, not today."
A successful holiday job search depends on a solid strategy. Follow the guidelines above and land a job this holiday season!
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Become a member to learn how to land a job and UNLEASH your true potential to get what you want from work!
By CAREEREALISM Founder, J.T. O'Donnell
3.2M students graduated from college this spring, but less than 25% of them had job offers. So, what happens to all the rest?
They go back home.
Referred to as 'boomerang kids' for their return to their parent's abode after graduation, this summer, a large percentage of 20'somethings will find themselves on the couch becoming K.I.P.P.E.R.S. (Kids In Parents Pockets Eating Retirement Savings). It's no wonder why so many parents are over-stepping their bounds in an effort to get their children jobs. However, continuing to micro-manage a student's life after college:
A) Won't help them learn how to take care of themselves.
B) Doesn't do much for their self-esteem.
Which means, parents need to stop hovering and start pointing their child towards resources that will teach their child how to find a job on their own.
Two Current Options for Job Seeking Grads
One option is their college career center. But, if the school isn't local, they may find this resource a dead end. Another option is to invest in private career coaching - a great service, if you can afford it.
Now, Here's a Third...
At CAREEREALISM.com, we just launched the 2.o version of our 24/7 Career Center, called CAREEREALISM Club. Staffed with approved career experts who work with members in real-time, the program provides job seekers with an unprecedented amount of cutting-edge career tools and job search support. As a top 10 career advice site, we knew we needed to create a 'Career HMO' for job seekers. This tool has the capacity to cut a job seeker's search time in half by providing the type of inspiration, education and connection needed to land a job in today's economy.
Plus, Exclusive Access to Our Talent Promotion Program
To celebrate it's launch, we are discounting 100 memberships for recent college grads to join our CAREEREALISM Club. Besides access to our tools and resources, we offer a program called CAREEREALISM University. Recent grads who join and complete CAREEREALISM University can earn a certification that shows employers their readiness for work. Better still, when they complete the certification, they get invited to join an exclusive group on LinkedIn (the #1 career social network) where we will help them connect with potential employers. In short, it's the chance for a recent grad to learn the vital life skills of job search, earning them a job in the process.
Our Desire for WOMP = Special Deal for Grads
The first 100 students who join here can do so for a one-time fee of $39. (The normal cost is $75/year.) Why are we doing this? Because we want to be able to show how powerful our program is. Instead of wasting money on advertising, we think it's smarter to offer this discount to a small group of eager job seekers as a way to create WOMP (Word Of Mouth Potential) for our innovative program.
If you know a college student who would benefit from this service, please send them the link. We can only afford to offer this price to the first 100 students who apply. We will shut down the link when we have reached that number, at which point, they can still join, but at the $75/year rate.
And, if you have any questions about the program, they can be e-mailed to us at club@workitdaily.com.
