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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This is the career story of a career planning facilitator as told to LatPro. This site features real stories from Hispanic professionals in a myriad of professions. If you have considered a career in the employment industry, read on to learn what the job is really like from this Career Planning Facilitator. Visit LatPro for more interviews with employment professionals including one from a Refugee Employer Services Representative a College Career Counselor and many others.
I am a Career Planning Facilitator for a local government employment facility that oversees workforce development and adult education. For the past two years, I've worked directly with clients who are largely displaced workers looking for employment. I'd describe myself as patient, tenacious and efficient, three things that are an absolute must for this type of work.
Because I am a female Caucasian and the facility I work in is largely run by other women, sexual discrimination is not an issue.
My job is a fairly complex; I offer services for displaced workers including but not limited to: job planning, assisting with job seeking and applications, helping to find appropriate remedial training or post-secondary education for eventual employment, and a number of other tasks that all cater to helping a person find a job through our programs or partner facilities.
When rating my job on a satisfaction scale of 1-10, I would frankly admit that my satisfaction level is somewhere in the mid-range of 5-6. The situation could be improved with better budgeting, more efficient systems for processing paperwork and more dedicated people. Despite maneuvering around office politics, I do get satisfaction out of knowing I am doing all I can to help a person get back on their feet and find a new job. There is no better news I can receive than getting a "thank you" letter from someone who has just landed a new job or completed training that will enable them to be employed.
I was offered the position when I attended the adult education program with my husband to help him with his remedial math skills after his automotive plant closed its doors in 2009. Had I known then what I did now, I could have helped dozens of people at a much earlier stage in the entire career training and career placement process; the training I received was largely self-directed and resources trickled in slowly and reluctantly from co-workers. However, because I come from a blue collar working family myself, I understand the situation many of my clients are in, and have been able to reach them on a deeper level than many of my white collar co-workers who do tend to "talk down" to laborers and tradesmen.
Dealing with the inefficiency of upper management, the money wasted on luncheons, parties and expensive hotel rooms during conferences has nearly made me resign several times. I've worked alongside those with PhD's who could not manage to get simple reports done correctly or on time. This inefficiency cost several co-workers their jobs. I've also had to come to terms the sad fact that there are some cognitively impaired displaced workers whom I've not been able to help due to program restrictions and the simple fact they will need directed, one-on-one training for re-employment that I was not able to give them, which was possibly the hardest lesson to learn.
Dealing with stressed out and desperate clients makes my job a demanding position that requires an incredible amount of compassion and patience. I make $11 per hour, though some of my co-workers make up to three times that amount. I do not receive vacation time and I have minimal benefits.
If I were referring a friend or family member into this line of work, I would be frank about the absolute need for time management skills, computer skills, and patience while dealing with customers. Some college might be necessary for learning the basics of spreadsheet software. The working world has little to due with books and texts. Common sense, unfortunately, is not very common. It is likely the oddest thing I've had to witness time and time again at work.
In five years, I would like to move on from this field of work and pursue other interests more directly focused in the adult education field.
JustJobs.com is a job search engine that finds job listings from company career pages, other job boards, newspapers and associations. With one search, they help you find the job with your name on it.Choosing candidate for job image from Shutterstock
