As a member of the Career Collective community of resume writers and career coaches, this post is one of many offering specific tips to help job seekers ramp up their efforts during the holiday season and the new year. I encourage you to visit other members’ responses linked at the end of my post and follow our hashtag on Twitter: #careercollective.
Do you make New Year’s resolutions? I do, but I think it’s important to make them realistic. Maybe it’s just because I love all things career-related, but I happen to think that job search efforts lend themself well to resolutions. So in the spirit of the holidays, my gift to you is three actionable New Year’s resolutions to jump start your job search. Print them out, work them into your daily and weekly activity plans, and check back with yourself 6-7 weeks into the New Year to see how you’re doing.
- Tweak, Edit & Revitalize. Read through your resume. Have someone you trust review it with a fresh eye. Should anything be added or removed? Consider a different opening for your cover letter. Add more selling points to your LinkedIn profile. It’s easy to create these documents, get comfortable, and not think about them again. If a period of time has passed, take an afternoon to sharpen your documents.They’re the cornerstone of your search.
- The Power of One. I can’t take credit for this, but it is very effective when it comes to job searching. Make one more cold call. Send one more follow up email. Mail one more cover letter. Stay at the networking event long enough to make one more connection. Just when you’re at the point of calling it a day, push yourself to do one more thing and you’ll see results – improved productivity and better odds.
- Pick 3. No, I’m not suggesting you play the lottery – though if luck is on your side, that might help your job search as well! What I’m recommending is that you identify three target companies to research and network. Use your own network, tap into your college alumni network, and branch out through sites such as LinkedIn, Twitter, and Plaxo. Make a commitment to network your way to the decision maker or conduct informational interviews with relevant professionals. Don’t just sit back waiting for a job posting. Get in there and put yourself in front of opportunities. This won’t happen overnight, but it’s worth the investment of time and energy.
PS – Anxious to get started now? Don’t want to wait til January? Check out my recent post with job search tips for the holiday season and my comments here on how to make the best use of the holidays in your job search.
Read more holiday-themed career advice here from my colleagues in the Career Collective:
@MartinBuckland, Elite Resumes, “Season’s Greetings and your Job Search”
@GayleHoward, The Executive Brand, “It’s Christmas time and a ho-ho-ho-hum?”
@KCCareerCoach, Career Chaos, “The Gift Every Laid Off Job Seeker Needs”
@resumeservice, Resume Writing Blog, “Holiday Resume Sparkle: Outshine the New Year Job-Search Mob“
@heathermundell, life@work, “Have a Holly Jolly Job Search”
@sweetcareers,Sweet Careers, “Holiday Job Search Tips for College Students 2009″
@careersherpa, Hannah Morgan: Career Sherpa, “Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Kwanzaa Cheers”
@careerealism, CAREEREALISM.com, “Holiday Tip for Job Seekers: 4 Ways to Impress Others with Your Professionalism”
@heatherhuhman, HeatherHuhman.com, “4 Tips for Making the Most of Holiday Job Hunting”
@KatCareerGal, Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters Tips Blog, “Avoiding the Holiday Blues in Your Job Search”
@WorkWithIllness, WorkingWithillness.com, “Avoid this Minefield: Drive Your Bus”
@DawnBugni, The Write Solution, “Could that sound really be opportunity? During the Holidays?”
@andyinnaples, “Shift Your Focus to the Highest Impact Job Search Activities During the Holidays to Leverage Your Time”
@erinkennedycprw, Professional Resume Services, “How to keep up the Job Hunt during the Holidays”
@keppie_careers, Keppie Careers, “Four tips for effective networking follow-up for the holidays and the rest of the year”
@ValueIntoWords, Career Trend, “Navigating the Mistle Toe of Job Search”
@GLHoffman, What Would Dad Say, “Merry Christmas! Can I Buy You Coffee to Talk About Me?”
@BarbaraSafani, Career Solvers, “Holiday Networking Can Facilitate New Year Opportunities”
@expatcoachmegan, Career By Choice Blog, “Expat Networking: Holidays Are a Great Time to Nurture and Grow Your Network”
@chandlee, The Emerging Professional Blog, “Footprints & Associations: Job Search Tips for the Holidays”
@JobHuntOrg, Job-Hunt.org, “(Holiday) Party Your Way to a New Job”
