Reassess Your Job Search Strategy During the Holidays
- Frank Manfre
- Nov 28
- 2 min read
Thanksgiving and the December holidays are a wonderful time to celebrate and enjoy time with family and friends. It is also a good time to be applying for jobs. Since most companies use the calendar year as their fiscal year, that means many new hire positions have been budgeted for January or Q1. This makes now a good time to apply for the positions you identify as ideal for you in the organizations your research has shown are good places to work.
Take time now to reflect on your next career move and revisit your search strategy and plan. What’s working? What’s not? Here are some ideas:
Get your desk or table organized including having your job search tools ready - resume, cover letter, LinkedIn profile, and targeted companies.
Develop a sharp focus on the job what you most want. Using a rifle with a scope is much better than a shotgun approach applying to a hundred openings. That eats up time and generates a ton of rejections which can wear down even the most optimistic.
Establish a tracking system, e.g. a spreadsheet, showing jobs you applied for and when follow up should take place.
Outreach - Don’t forget to keep seeking connections on LinkedIn with people in the companies and markets you want to be in.
Make a commitment to the same time and duration each day for job search and research. Don’t try to do it all day – you’ll burn out. Conducting a balanced search is vital for your mental and physical wellbeing.
Set daily and weekly goals for applications and connection requests. Keep a score sheet and check off each item. Then reward yourself with a treat or fun activity; this reinforces behaviors that provide positive outcomes.
Frank Manfre
Job Search Sherpa
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