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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Considered pursuing a career in Sales? This interview takes you through the ups and downs you can expect, what it takes to land the job, what you can expect to earn and more. This is a true career story as told to DiversityJobs and is one of many interviews with financial planners and retail sales managers.
When I was in high school, I didn’t know if I would make it through college, so I was looking at fields that didn’t require a four-year degree.
I’d had a terrible time with math, reading, and spelling from elementary through high school, and personal organization has always been a challenge. I’ve always had good mechanical skills, though, so I thought I might go into one of the trades.
There was one other area where I found success in high school. Whether it was commission sales through a part-time retail job or raffle tickets for a fund raiser, I could always sell. I’ve never been shy about approaching people, and I just wouldn’t give up until I’d met whatever quota I’d set for myself.
I’d also gotten interested in the stock market, so between those two interests, I started thinking about going to college after all and majoring in business.
I chose a small private college and declared a business major as a freshman. Given my math and reading difficulties, the academics weren’t easy, but the smallness of the college was a huge help.
The college was one-sixth the size of my high school, and I took full advantage of the tutoring services. The professors all knew how hard I tried and gave me extra help.
A computer lab had just been built, and spell-check saved my neck on term papers. Not having to deal with the distractions of a mammoth campus also helped me keep things organized.
In my senior year, I did an internship with my uncle. He owned a large, busy retail store in Atlanta, and I learned every operation.
Since this occupied the entire spring semester of my senior year, and I had no intention of living in Georgia permanently, I didn’t get much job-hunting done.
Consequently, I found myself unemployed and living with my parents after I got my degree.
Once I started looking for a job, I applied the same goal-setting that helped me in sales. I figured the more contacts I made and the more interviews I had, the closer I was to reaching my final goal of getting a job.
So, I set myself weekly goals of talking to a specific number of people about potential jobs. I kept daily notes and contact information in a planner to help keep things organized. When I met my weekly goal, I’d go out and celebrate with friends.
I also used the same relational skills in my job hunt that I do in sales. Many people have the idea that someone who is good at sales is a fast-talker able to give a hard sell.
People who meet me would say that I don’t fit that description at all. I’m just sincere, friendly and a good listener. I don’t try to persuade people to buy something just because I’m trying to sell it. Instead, I find out what the customer needs, and I try to meet that need.
The company that ended up hiring me was a manufacturer of fasteners, and most of its clients were in the retail automotive industry. I showed the company how my long-term interest in mechanics and my retail internship met their need, and they hired me.
In sales, the good income doesn’t come immediately. It takes work to build up a client base.
For me, it was easier to adapt to working than it was to going back to school every fall because I’m so much better suited for the business world than I ever was for the life of a student.
The rewards in the working world are also a lot more tangible than they ever were in school. One thing I like about sales is that I every day I can directly influence how much money I make. For me, that’s a lot more motivating than the prospect of making a good grade at the end of the semester.
If I had to do college all over again, the biggest thing that would have helped me in the working world is to have believed in myself more.
My difficulties in school actually helped me to have a lot more persistence in the sales field, which is a key quality for success. I just had no idea at the time that having to work harder than other students would have a silver lining.
I’m definitely still in sales and will be for the years to come. A few years after I started working, I was promoted to sales manager.
With each new promotion, I was responsible for larger territories. I recently accepted a position as a business development manager with a Fortune 500 company.
I’m still not a whiz at spelling, arithmetic, or reading, but I've been saved by spell-check, Excel spreadsheets, and computer searches that help me avoid reading mountains of material to get information I need.
My laptop and smart phone also keep me organized so I can concentrate on developing our company’s client base.
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