Networking During the Holidays – Part 1

The holidays are great opportunities to network and move your job search forward. Job seekers too often make the mistake of assuming the last several weeks of the year are not fruitful for networking. In reality, the holidays present a prime opportunity to cut through the noise of the normal busy times of the year and gain the attention of key people inside a targeted company. This article debunks the assumptions this is a bad time to move forward. In part two, Endeavor goes through several key action steps you can take to make the most out of networking during the holidays.

Debunking the Myth of the Holidays as a Bad Time for Networking

The common belief held by many job seekers is that key people involved in the hiring process take several weeks off and spend their time wholly focused on family. While there is some thread of truth to this belief, there are many counterpoints to help balance it.

Networking Time is Available for Both Sides

The first thing to consider is time. Hardly any busy person in leadership can afford to take off the entire month of December, even if they have plenty of PTO to use. The end of the year is still busy and there is a lot of work to do to finish strong, meet goals and plan for the next year. They will take some time off and spend with family. However, very few put the phone down and completely tune out. They will likely check their emails while other family members are napping, playing games or doing their own things. It’s just the way of the world. These executives finally have time to pay attention to an email or LinkedIn message they might have ignored previously.

As the job seeker, if you are employed, there’s a good chance you will have some extra time off as part of the company holiday schedule. You have more time to focus on your networking that may not have been available previously. If you’re not employed, then it’s a good way to manage the anxious energy levels of being in between jobs.

Gain a Competitive Advantage in Your Job Search

Other candidates believe the same myth you believed – that networking over the holidays is a waste of time. They choose to do nothing over the holidays believing it’s a wasted effort. You gain a competitive advantage by not competing for time and attention. Additionally, you get a head start on the process versus those who wait until Jan. 2. It also demonstrates to the company that you are industrious, motivated and not someone who sits and waits. Very few companies seek an employee who sits and waits.