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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We often work with people who are still employed but who have seen the writing on the wall for the future of their companies. They seek us out to proactively start their job search process before they find themselves in a desperate situation. Many who are currently employed are nervous about sending any signals that they are seeking new opportunities. So what can you do to keep your job search confidential while using social media?
LinkedIn
LinkedIn offers many helpful ways to prevent your current coworkers from suspecting you’re looking for a job. For instance, when you join groups on LinkedIn, you can choose to not have those groups displayed on your profile. You can also set your privacy settings so people can’t tell when you’ve looked at their profiles—although the tradeoff is this will disable your ability to know who’s looking at you. Lastly, you can choose to not have your news feed publicly displayed, so it won’t be obvious you’re adding new colleagues or connections.
Facebook
If you keep your personal Facebook account and your professional contacts separate, Facebook becomes a very easy place to seek out information related to new career opportunities. Many companies and organizations have Facebook pages you can “like” to get more information about the company. Some even have a “We’re Hiring” tab with job opportunities posted right on their page. Facebook is also a great place to get in touch with old school friends or neighbors who may not be professional contacts on LinkedIn, but who might have a great way to help you land your next job.
Twitter
Twitter is a great place to get yourself noticed as a voice in your field. If you’re looking to stay in your current field, posting articles or other content related to your work on a Twitter account shouldn’t raise any eyebrows among your colleagues. If you’re looking to change industries into something where you have a personal interest, no one can really question your tweeting about your hobbies and interests. The good news is other people in whatever field interests you can come across your tweets, start following you, and build an online relationship based on your common interests.
If you become savvy with social media display and privacy controls, these sites can offer you a fantastic opportunity to put yourself out there as a passive candidate. Just make sure you’re updating these sites on your own time, so no one can accuse you of wasting company resources.
Recent studies show 70-80% of people are not leveraging LinkedIn efficiently. Are you one of those job seekers who are getting lost in the shuffle? The fact of the matter is, if you don’t have a noticeable online presence you do not exist for some hiring authorities. If you’re in a job search it’s time to invest in professional LinkedIn profile development and start getting noticed.
[This article was originally posted on an earlier date]
Jessica Holbrook Hernandez, CEO of Great Resumes Fast is an expert resume writer, career and personal branding strategist, author, and presenter. Read more » articles by this approved career expert | Click here » if you’re a career expertPhoto credit: Shutterstock
