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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By Scott Griffin
How often are we confronted in our daily lives where we can do something right versus what is common?
When employees do something “right” in our business life, I am referring to what makes you not only feel good inside for a “job well done,” but also having a satisfied customer, client, or boss as well. Doing what is right also opens possibilities in a win/win situations in that you feel good at the end of the day and the client is happy not in your work, but that you took the additional time to add a little more personal interest in their satisfaction.
Unfortunately, in today’s economic atmosphere with cuts in budgets, staff, time, and other resources the last thing that we think about is doing what is right. We are just trying to survive getting through the day! This sometimes leads to taking shortcuts, not spending a little more time with a client, or passing some tasks off to different departments or personnel.
Considering that many companies are cutting back the question can become...
Why can’t we, as employees, cut back as well?
In fact, many employees do cut back - cutting back on response time, quality, and any other services that we normally provide. We fail to give our all, our best, to the organization, the client, and to our fellow co-workers. Soon our new “lowered” standards become “common” at the expense of everyone else, including ourselves. Work standards begin to match everyone else, just doing the minimum though out the day while not getting fired in the process. This now becomes standard or “common” criteria while it appears that others are trying to push the envelope a little further in hopes of doing even less. This sets the stage where “common” becomes a new standard and of lesser value not just to the organization but to the clients as well.
Companies and organizations usually pride themselves in quality, price, and/or service that they can provide to their clients while retaining and attracting new clients. Clients, in turn, usually do business with these companies for that very reason. However, what happens when there is a downturn in the company or the economy? When everyone is working towards the new lower “common” does quality and performance suffer? Many employees are now asked to double-up on their tasks. We are often tasked to do more with fewer resources. If your work standards become “common” to other competing companies then why should a client stay with your company if they could receive better services or product elsewhere?
So, I ask you: "Has the current economy made us start to skip doing what is right and just do what is common?" Share your opinions below. How can we get employees to want to do what is right, when current circumstances make them feel obliged to do what is common?Scott has an MBA in Information Security from Keller Graduate School of Management and is currently employed within a local government agency. His professional experience ranges from Private Sector Corporate to Federal Government agencies. He can be found at https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottcgriffin.
