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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If you’re in a position at your existing job where a potential promotion will bring you into the ranks of management, then you may feel you’d like extra training. Some of the best management training can be learnt on the job – after all, there’s nothing like a baptism by fire!
However, undertaking an official course in management can be very beneficial, especially if you feel there are particular areas that you need to improve upon.
In-depth and professional management courses can also be a great help to those managers who feel they need to brush up on existing skills, as they cover a variety of skills including project management and planning, business planning, and handling operations management. But even if you want to undertake a management course, the question centres on how to do this without letting your existing employment fall by the wayside.
For busy individuals, working out how to fit in home, work and education can be incredibly difficult. One of the most successful ways to further your education while working in full-time employment can be to undertake a distance learning course or courses. Distance learning does what it says on the tin, meaning you can study from the comfort of your own home, save time commuting, and still benefit from the range of management courses that are on offer.
A key aspect of distance learning is the use of online resources. A variety of interesting and useful online resources is available for those taking part in distance learning, and using social media – including student forums – is integral to this. As well as improving your skills in this area, it means that, unlike other forms of home learning, this type of distance learning still has a sociable, shared element to it: discussing issues with your fellow students can be some of the most fruitful ways of finding new paths through your education.
To make the most of distance learning, it’s essential you understand what will be required of you – and not just coursework! Being a motivated and driven individual is essential for succeeding with distance learning, as you’re responsible for your own education. Excellent timekeeping is also very important, as working out the balance between all the different facets of your work, life and education can be challenging. Most importantly though, you need to choose your course carefully and don’t be afraid to ask questions.
If you’re already in management, you might be used to working independently – which is a good thing – but if you want to get back into education, it’s essential that you recognise when you need to work closely with others and ask for their advice. A benefit of using online resources and undertaking distance learning is that firing off an email asking for advice only takes five minutes – rather than waiting in a queue outside a tutor’s university office!
Online and distance learning courses are readily available, with a huge range to choose from. Picking the right management course for you may take time but the benefits to your career in the long run will make it worth your while.
Online education resources image from Shutterstock
