Job Searching During The Holidays
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Job searching at anytime can be discouraging, but hang on because it is especially hard during the holidays. In my experience, companies that are not retail focused tend to curtail their job openings toward the end of the year. Some common reasons for not hiring during the holidays include:

• Staff are taking holiday vacations so there isn’t enough time or personnel to train new staff members.
• Departments may be waiting until the first of the year when a new budget becomes available. Near the end of the year, companies typically do not want to or are unable to take on any new costs.

On a more positive note, if a company is hiring toward the end of the year, this typically indicates that the job opening is critical to the business and the company needs that position filled. Other job openings may be posted during the holiday season, but the company has no intention of making an offer until after the first of the year. If you are able to secure an interview, don’t hesitate to ask the interviewer about the hiring timeline.

Another option to keep in mind; the holidays are a great time to find seasonal work. Even if the seasonal work doesn’t align with your skill set or background, this is a good opportunity to fill employment gaps and to gain a little extra cash. You never know, it may even lead to something more permanent or give you an in towards a job that does align more with your previous experiences.

You may find yourself busy with the holidays just around the corner, but don’t stop your job search. Try to dedicate the same amount of time each day to networking, browsing the job boards, conducting follow-up messaging, etc. Also make sure you are available for hiring managers to contact you or schedule interviews. Enjoy your holidays but the job search must continue.