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 candid career story of a professional counselor 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 mental health industry, read on to learn what the job is really like from this professional counselor. Visit LatPro for more interviews with mental health workers, including one from a Psychotherapist, an Addiction Therapist, and many others.
I am a professional counselor, working in a social services office that is overseen by the county government. I have 11 years experience in the field and I would describe myself as caring, driven and sympathetic.
I am a Caucasian female. I’m not sure it has either helped or hurt my career, but being a woman does sometimes make it easier for young women to talk privately with me. I have yet to experience discrimination.
I counsel young people in high risk communities, including teenage girls who are experiencing an unplanned pregnancy. One misunderstanding may be I am a psychiatrist or psychologist, which I am not.
My job satisfaction is somewhere around an 8, on a scale of 1 to 10. I wish the pay scale was a bit higher, but overall I am extremely satisfied with my career and my workplace.
I am constantly moved in my job. I speak with young people undergoing difficult times and am often able to help them find a solution or come to terms with what they face. I certainly feel as if I am doing what I’m meant to do.
Sometimes I face moral and ethical problems in my work. Young people who confide in me have a level of trust and we speak in confidence. Sometimes, a situation arises where I feel a parent should be contacted, and I have to use my best judgment.
My mother worked in this field and I paid attention to her work while I was growing up. If I could do it over, I would still choose this career.
I learned to speak up for myself in getting promoted within the office. At one point, I had more experience than another counselor who was offered a pay raise, and I took the issue to the appropriate source to discuss my own salary.
A strong skill I have is keeping the confidence and trust of the people you help and work with. It is a tool that helps me every day in my line of work.
One unusual happening was the day I had a young couple come into my office, looking to get married. The teens were both 16 years old and the girl was a few months pregnant. They wanted to be married before telling their parents, and I had to let them know our offices were not designed for the function. Ultimately, they didn’t get married, but they have raised the child together.
I go to work each day because I feel a drive each day to get to the files on my desk, to pick up cases that I know I can help with. Sometimes there is bureaucracy to cut through, but the kids make it worth the struggle.
One frustrating thing about my job is answering to politics. Sometimes, there is a case I know needs attention, but because of political tape I have to pass the file on. This happens probably a few times a month.
My job can be very stressful, and I feel pressure to live up to my responsibilities. I maintain a balance by spending quality time with my family.
I and my fellow counselors make roughly $50,000. This is on the high end in my region, and I am able to support my family with the help of my husband. We more or less live the quality of life we wish to.
I take about two weeks of vacation a year, but I wish it was more. I do get holidays off, which helps, but I sometimes feel spread thin.
A Bachelor’s degree is enough education for this career, though a graduate degree gets you more money and better positions. Training programs can also help an individual get ahead.
I would tell a friend to talk to other counselors, to get an insider’s look at what the daily work looks like.
In five years I would like to have a managerial position within my department, but still doing the same sort of work I do today.
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.Helping troubled person image from Shutterstock
