Don’t Stop Searching for a Job Over the Holidays

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If you’re in the middle of a job hunt, you might not welcome the months of November and December with open arms. Historically, many job seekers believe the end of the year is a bad time to land a new position. After all, companies are busy meeting goals and deadlines, hiring managers are out of the office, and job seekers themselves are busy prepping for the holidays.

Catherine Jewell, an Austin, Texas-based career coach and author of the book New Résumé, New Career, was recently interviewed for Forbes on why using the holidays to find a job is a great idea. There are actually a few reasons why November and December are a great months to get a gig — and why you should be extra persistent during your search. Here’s a summary of our favorite points:

1. Less competition.
If others are too busy to apply for a job, that just gives you a better chance of landing one. Even if there are not as many opportunities available over the holidays, you never know what’s about to open in early January. Start making connections with hiring managers now and let them know what you’re looking for.

2. Easier access.
The holidays are both a busy time and a quiet time. The days leading up to and right after a holiday might be a great time to reach a hiring manager who might be sitting at her desk undisturbed.

3. Networking opportunities.
View every holiday party as a networking opportunity. You’ll hear about upcoming job openings before they’re listed online and may even be able to land a phone interview thanks to a glowing recommendation. A lot of professional groups will host holiday events too — it’s time to get social for the sake of your job search.

Read more about why you should search for a job during the holidays at Forbes.