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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It’s always nice to hear from readers. One woman, who works for a dermatologist, read my article on Bona Fide Occupational Qualifications.
Here’s the issue: You can discriminate against someone if their condition makes it impossible or unsafe for them to do the job for which they are applying.
No obese flight attendants. No pilots over 60 being the captain of a commercial flight.
But what about not hiring someone with bad teeth to work Reception at a dentist’s office or, as in the case of the woman who contacted me after reading my article, someone who is sunburned wanting to work for a dermatologist?
I believe that it is an employer’s right to determine their company’s corporate image. If you won’t hire anyone with tattoos, no problem. If you only refuse to hire Hispanics with tattoos, problem. Same for requiring good teeth for the dentist and good skin (or at least not bad skin) for the dermatologist.
But I’m not an attorney. This is my personal opinion. I do not give legal advice. If I did, I could get into a lot of trouble. As I like to say on occasion, I’m crazy, not stupid, and it would be stupid for me to play lawyer.
So why did my reader contact me? She was interviewing a candidate for a position at her office. The candidate had a sunburn. She told the candidate that she had a problem with her skin being sunburned. Sounds logical.
Over exposure to the sun is the leading cause of skin cancer. It’s a dermatologist’s office after all! But, the woman is a minority. She left, went home, and filed a discrimination complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission against the dermatologist based on race and skin color.
There are minorities working for the dermatologist. Clearly, they do not discriminate based on race or color, and they decided not to fill the position.
Here’s the rub: All of that may be irrelevant. I don’t know. But what I do know is that all of this could have been easily avoided.
There is no law that requires an employer to tell a candidate why they don’t want to hire them. If you don’t want someone all you have to say is, “Thank you very much. I’ve enjoyed meeting you. We are in the process of interviewing candidates. We’ll be in touch.”
I write about discrimination in my book, A Hooker’s Guide to Getting a Job: Parables from the Real World of Career Counseling and Executive Recruiting. If you have a specific reason why you don’t want to hire a person, I’m willing to offer this piece of advice: SHUT UP!
If you don’t, I can recommend a good attorney…
Not hiring image from Bigstock
