Job Searching Hints for the Holidays

 
While the majority of companies will not do much hiring during the holidays, it is still important that those who are looking for other employment to maintain their job searching efforts.
When the holidays fall on weekends, many companies slow down for the holiday season, but rarely do they ever come to a complete stop.  As a job seeker, you should expect that some employees will be on vacation on during this entire week.  As a job seeker, you should also be aware that many of the those who sit in the chairs at the higher end of the company hierarchy will be taking advantage of the ‘quiet’ time and actually be in their offices cleaning up loose ends or preparing/strategizing for the beginning of the new year.   

If you were one of those who had the opportunity to be interviewed during the last few weeks, but haven’t heard anything since the interview, don’t panic!  It will probably take most offices until the first week of January to get caught up.   If you haven't heard, it doesn't mean you won't be contacted for an interview or given a job offer.

If you are one of those job seekers who is concerned that your applications have been lost in the midst of the holiday season,  the question still remains, “How should you follow up to make sure that your candidacy hasn't been forgotten in the transition to the New Year and the pile of work waiting for hiring managers when they get back to the office?”

ANSWER: Send a follow up note reiterating your interest in the position and offering to provide any further information the hiring manager might need. That way, you can remind the employer that you are interested and available, even though a couple of weeks have passed since the interview.

Do you have any job searching hints for the holodays that you would like to share?

Copyright © 2011, Career Matters. All Rights Reserved. Permission to Reprint: This article may be reprinted, provided it appears in its entirety with the following attribution: Copyright © 2011, Career Matters. Reprinted by permission of the author, Mary Salvino. “Career Matters” is a blog hosted by Mary Salvino, Senior Consultant for SMART Career Planning.com that is dedicated to those who are seeking advice on managing their career and future job opportunities. We welcome readers to share their experiences, post their comments or ask questions about career related matters. This blog is also dedicated to those who stand a little taller each time they picked themselves up after failing and those who gained the wisdom and humility from those experiences to help others do the same. For any questions or comments that are better addressed privately, please feel free to e-mail Mary directly at Mary.Salvino@shaw.ca

The 10 Commandments for Job Seekers

Do you wish there was a better way to make the most of the time you spend looking for work?  Well, there is!  Read on.

1. Thou shalt treat your job search like any other job.  Start work, looking for work, at the same time every day, take regular breaks and end your day at a specified time.

2. Thou shalt use the time you spend looking for work on the Internet wisely.  You do not have to read your horoscope, or play Freecell, or watch popular videos on YouTube, or read articles that are not directly related to your industry when you should be looking for work.  Do not check your e-mail more than 3 times per day - As soon as you sit down at your computer, after lunch and once more in the middle of the afternoon.  Anything that is work related and comes in after your last e-mail check can wait until tomorrow.

3. Thou shalt read the job description and only apply for opportunities for which you are qualified.

4. Thou shalt read and follow the instructions given for applying for the job opportunity. 

5. Thou shalt take the time to customize both your cover letter and résumé to suit the job

opportunity.

6. Thou shalt incorporate social media job search techniques as part of your job search strategy -   Follow companies on LinkedIn, Facebook &Twitter.

7. Thou shalt show appreciation.  Always send a note of thanks to those you have responded to your job enquiries or granted you an interview.

8. Thou shalt share content and information with others in your industry. Keep it relevant but don't hesitate to answer questions from would-be peers, share your blog, article , upcoming events, or other important information with others.

9. Thou shalt diversify your job search techniques to include both on-line and off-line activities.

10. Thou shalt be persistent and follow up on all applications sent.

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Copyright © 2011, Career Matters. All Rights Reserved. Permission to Reprint: This article may be reprinted, provided it appears in its entirety with the following attribution: Copyright © 2011, Career Matters. Reprinted by permission of the author, Mary Salvino. “Career Matters” is a blog hosted by Mary Salvino, Senior Consultant for SMART Career Planning.com that is dedicated to those who are seeking advice on managing their career and future job opportunities. We welcome readers to share their experiences, post their comments or ask questions about career related matters. This blog is also dedicated to those who stand a little taller each time they picked themselves up after failing and those who gained the wisdom and humility from those experiences to help others do the same. For any questions or comments that are better addressed privately, please feel free to e-mail Mary directly at Mary.Salvino@shaw.ca

Job Seeking: Self-Promotion Marketing Errors and How to Avoid Them

When you are looking for a job you are in the business of marketing and self-promotion.  Just like any in other business, when a marketing strategy doesn't work, i.e. you are not any securing interviews, you may think that it is time to re-evaluate your strategy, and, you may be right.  Many job seekers who make errors in marketing themselves [their brand] have a lack of understanding with regard to how marketing really works.  Lasted below are some of the common mistakes in marketing and some suggestions on how they can be avoided:

1) Shotgun VS rifle.  Experienced marketers know that you can increase the intensity of your brand's appeal by narrowing the target audience.  It is better to be the first choice of 10% of the population rather than one of ten options for everyone.

2) Betting on logic and rationality. Hiring managers are human and they do not make decisions solely on the basis of the most logical choice. Emotion influences the majority of decisions, therefore you, as a job seeker, should try to ‘connect’ with your potential employers, by identifying common interests, backgrounds, challenges, etc., rather than trying to convince them that you are the best choice.

3) Believing that market research trumps everything. Market research can be flat-out misleading.  Market research is often stale-dated and some of the information you are able to suss out about your target market may not even be true.  Be aware of current events and read newsletters rather than government reports to find out about what is trending in your industry.

4) Getting seduced by the shiny and new. Fresh marketing tactics and tools are presenting themselves all the time; it is tempting to try to one-up the other guys with marketing collateral that is ‘fancier’ than the tools you are currently using.  Maintain your professionalism at all times.  All of your marketing collateral needs to be clean, precise and optimized for the best result.   Do not be distracted from what is working.

5) Advertising your aspirations. Potential employers are not in the business of supporting you and your aspirations; they are in the business of influencing their bottom line in a positive manner.  To increase your success rate of securing interviews, your marketing collateral should detail how you have saved money for former employers.

It is always easy to come up with reasons not to do something, surrendering to fear of the unknown. Not all of the self-marketing tactics you do will work, but with each mistake, you will be learning and growing.

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Copyright © 2011, Career Matters. All Rights Reserved. Permission to Reprint: This article may be reprinted, provided it appears in its entirety with the following attribution: Copyright © 2011, Career Matters. Reprinted by permission of the author, Mary Salvino. “Career Matters” is a blog hosted by Mary Salvino, Senior Consultant for SMART Career Planning.com that is dedicated to those who are seeking advice on managing their career and future job opportunities. We welcome readers to share their experiences, post their comments or ask questions about career related matters. This blog is also dedicated to those who stand a little taller each time they picked themselves up after failing and those who gained the wisdom and humility from those experiences to help others do the same. For any questions or comments that are better addressed privately, please feel free to e-mail Mary directly at Mary.Salvino@shaw.ca

Are You Job Hunting During the Holidays? You should be!

Yes, job seeker, you can make progress in your job search during the holidays. Believe it, or not, a great deal progress can be made in the area of hunting for new opportunities during the holidays.   It should be noted that these opportunities will not be in the customer service area as these positions will have already been filled, but,  when things are slowing down at the office there are often excellent opportunities.  Here is why:

• Companies that deal primarily with customers will see a lull in activity due to the fact that those customers are tending to their own needs
• This lull in activity will allow hiring managers the opportunity to assess their own staffing needs
• Hiring managers will have a good idea of who their star performers are and who will need to be replaced
• Some hiring managers have budgets that need to be spent
• Busy professionals/executives spend more time in the office and are open to meeting with job candidates. Be available and flexible during the holidays. Would you be willing to interview for a job in the last few days of December?
• Words of caution: Business Casual Is Great … Once You’re Hired. When arranging a holiday-time interview, if you hear “Just dress casually, it’s a ghost town here, and I’ll be in jeans,” don’t be tempted. You get one time to make a first impression
• Dress for the job you want - wear suitable business attire. It shows respect.
• Take your pad, take notes - you will need them to compose your thank you for the interview follow-up
• Bring a hard copy of your résumé
• Regardless of how chilly the weather, don’t waltz in carrying a Grande Caffe Latte
• Hiring managers and recruiters have a sense of urgency related to staffing at this time of the year. They do not want to begin the new year with a staffing deficit. The want to be ramped up to meet new business opportunities
• The majority of job seekers will put their efforts on hold, so the competition for the positions that are out there is reduced
• There are opportunities for job seekers to do some uber-networking through volunteering [you never know who you are going to meet, or where] and attending social gatherings.
• Words of caution: Always Party with a Professional Side:
• Be ready with an elevator pitch about yourself and your career goals
• Go easy on the eggnog and other alcoholic beverages
• Avoid dressing like Lady Gaga
• Bring business cards, even if they only state your contact information and specialty

The holiday season is also an opportunity [excuse] for job seeking to re-connect with people that they have not been in contact with for long periods of time.  When you send holiday greetings, suggest an informal ‘catch-up’ session over beverages within the next couple of weeks and   don’t forget to include your business card in the note.

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Copyright © 2011, Career Matters. All Rights Reserved. Permission to Reprint: This article may be reprinted, provided it appears in its entirety with the following attribution: Copyright © 2011, Career Matters. Reprinted by permission of the author, Mary Salvino. “Career Matters” is a blog hosted by Mary Salvino, Senior Consultant for SMART Career Planning.com that is dedicated to those who are seeking advice on managing their career and future job opportunities. We welcome readers to share their experiences, post their comments or ask questions about career related matters. This blog is also dedicated to those who stand a little taller each time they picked themselves up after failing and those who gained the wisdom and humility from those experiences to help others do the same. For any questions or comments that are better addressed privately, please feel free to e-mail Mary directly at Mary.Salvino@shaw.ca