With nearly 16 million Americans out of work and tending tirelessly to their job searches, some candidates may be ready for a little holiday break. But December could actually be the best time to reinvigorate your hunt, experts say.
Each industry has its own busy hiring times and business cycles, but certain times of year are particularly good for job hunting in every field, and right now is one of them.
"There is a certain pattern to when companies hire in general," said Rob Saam, a senior vice president at outplacement firm Lee Hecht Harrison."There is more hiring in January than December, but the thing about a job search is that it's a process so you should start looking before that," he said.
While job seekers typically believe that there's no sense in sending out résumés over the holidays when many people are on vacation, that may actually be the very best time to put yourself out there.
Seasonal Jobs
Most retailers actively hire seasonal employees during major holidays so that they are adequately staffed to service shoppers. For example, department stores may need additional staff during Christmas, Easter and other holidays duringwhich the shopping volumes are high. If you are looking for a full-time job, these may not seem appealing to you.
However, if you impress your supervisors, they could lead to full-time positions. When applying for these jobs, do so well in advance of the season, as these companies usually staff in advance to allow time for training.
The best time to look for a job is when you don’t need one. That probably sounds counter intuitive, but let me explain. When you need a job, you are in the worst bargaining position possible. Anytime you put yourself in a position where you can’t walk away from a deal–or where it is hard to walk away–you lose your advantage in negotiating.
I found out about a job opportunity that would have been the perfect fit for a friend of mine. I told him about it, but he didn’t want to apply because he was happy with his current job. This is they way most people think. If I like my job, why should I go to the trouble of getting my resume ready and talking to someone else?
What most people don’t realize is that being happily employed may make you a much more attractive employee to the company looking to hire.It also puts you in a position where you can turn down anything except for a truly great opportunity.
And by the way, you should always have your resume ready and up today. Keep current on current trends by taking a look at resume examples and keep yours formatted in a way that doesn’t make it look like it was done last decade.
