This time of year offers special opportunities for job seekers. Holiday networking events, for example, can be great chances to meet professionals you might not encounter otherwise. Additionally, some employers are still eager to fill positions before budgets reset or headcount is finalized in the new year, making it a prime time to stand out with a strategic approach.
Here are five ways you can stand out from the competition this holiday season and find a job before the end of the year.
1. Showcase The Right Skills On Your Resume
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When updating your resume, focus on aligning your experience with the specific demands of the industry. Go beyond just listing responsibilities; dig into job descriptions to identify the core skills that consistently appear for your target roles. By tailoring your resume with these keywords, you not only capture the attention of hiring managers but also boost your chances of passing applicant tracking systems (ATS), which are often programmed to scan for these key terms. It's all about keywords!
During the holiday season, hiring managers are often managing tight timelines and high demands, making it crucial for candidates to demonstrate that they’re ready to hit the ground running. Highlighting industry-relevant skills shows you're not only familiar with the landscape but also equipped to make an immediate impact. Be sure to include examples of how you've leveraged these core strengths in previous roles to support team goals or tackle challenges (aka quantify your work experience). The holidays are hectic, so share with the potential employer how you'll be a positive addition to the team by leveraging your strengths and emphasizing your value as a business-of-one.
2. Dress The Part
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Don't underestimate the power of a great first impression. Dress for the interview in professional attire. Even if the job description mentions a casual dress code, such as jeans and a sweatshirt, it’s essential to show respect for the employer by dressing in a way that demonstrates your commitment to making a positive impression. Wearing attire that reflects your professionalism shows you care about how you're perceived and the impression you leave on others.
Not sure what to wear? We recommend dressing conservatively in clothing one level above what the current employees at the company are wearing. You want to look professional, but not like you don't fit in with the workplace culture.
3. Show Your Connection To The Company
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Employers like to hire candidates who have a passion for what they do. Why? Because when people are passionate about their work, that enthusiasm often translates into a higher level of commitment, creativity, and productivity. This intrinsic motivation can lead to consistently strong performance and a positive impact on the team and company as a whole.
In your disruptive cover letter (and during your job interview), demonstrate how and why you admire the company. Highlight what you love most about their products and services. Give examples of how you have personally used them in your own life with success. The more you can show them you understand and respect the business, the more likely you'll impress the hiring manager and move forward in the interview process.
4. Demonstrate Your Value
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It's important to remember that you're a business-of-one, and you're trying to sell the service you provide as a business-of-one to employers (the customers who will be paying you for the service).
To find a job during the holidays, you must adequately demonstrate your value as a business-of-one and highlight your strengths and the specific benefits you bring as a potential employee throughout the hiring process. How do you do this? Well, make sure to quantify your work experience on your resume. Use numbers to showcase your accomplishments. Clearly state how you'll make or save the company money with your employment. Do this, and you'll easily become one of the top candidates for the position.
5. Express Gratitude
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The holidays are busy for everyone. When you're applying for jobs during the holiday season, keep gratitude in mind. This positive mindset not only helps you stay resilient but also shines through in your applications and interviews, leaving a memorable impression on potential employers.
After every job interview, always send a thank-you note. It's just the polite thing to do, and you'll score more points with the hiring manager. Even if you get rejected, or never hear back about a position, make sure you send an email thanking the employer for the opportunity and wish them the best of luck with finding the right job candidate.
Don't be bitter. Be gracious. You never know what will happen in the future. You might want to apply for another job at the company down the line. So, don't let your frustration get the best of you. Remember: If you get rejected, they didn't say, "No, not ever." They just said, "No, not today."
A successful holiday job search depends on a solid strategy. Follow the guidelines above and land a job this holiday season!
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I work as a freelance author, which means I am self-employed and spend a fair amount of time searching for new clients via the Internet.
I am currently working exclusively for two clients. The first freelancing job I ever took was recommended to me by a friend who wrote some website content on the side for extra money. It was on a website where clients can post jobs for freelancers to accept and complete. I also work for another client independent of this site. I found that particular job opportunity while browsing another website where clients post content that needs to be completed, but in this case, authors must bid on the job with a price and time frame. The lowest bidder with the best portfolio wins.
Thankfully, this client turned out to have long-term work for me.
Internet technology is a very important tool for me and for other freelance authors. Simply querying "work for freelance authors" in a search engine such as Google or Bing has led to several different job opportunities for me. Another search that led me to a goldmine of writing opportunities was "websites for freelance authors" since there are a multitude of them available.
I've been in this line of business for several years now, and I can provide several different websites where my work has been featured. Also, I host my own website that is full of unpublished pieces dealing with a large range of subjects. Potential clients are intrigued by this website and I always receive kudos from them. Building up a client base has been a huge help because I have a litany of references and people who are always willing to provide spectacular reviews. I am very dedicated to my clients and provide extremely quick responses to revision requests or requests for new content. For the most part, I have found simply showcasing my strengths and providing business references from past and current clients is the best way to earn more work.
There are several different legitimate websites out there for freelance authors and clients who are looking for their work. A few of these websites have fantastic forums that allow for communication with other professionals in my line of work. These forums have proven to be invaluable resources to both myself and my clients. Not only do they help both sides of the profession learn the 'lay of the land' when starting with unfamiliar companies, but they also provide a wonderful place for professionals to discuss the proper way to handle uncommon client requests and things like proper grammar and style.
My first freelancing job interview was a huge success. I wrote a sample piece about eighteenth century handbags for one of my favorite freelancing sites, and it was a hit. I got rave reviews on not only my spelling and grammar, but also on my attention to detail when dealing with the subject matter. Recently, however, I submitted a sample piece to another prospective client about HVAC units, which is far from my area of expertise. Although I did the required research and the ideas came out very well on paper, I completely forgot to follow the client's very precise formatting guidelines. Although my spelling and grammar were impeccable, I had used the wrong font, the wrong size, and the wrong margin measurements. I was incredibly embarrassed when I received the rejection letter from that client. Since that day, I've learned that paying very close attention to detail is important in any endeavor, not just in writing.
The internet is a wonderful tool for job searches, and that is a fact. With any profession, however, there are scams. It's important to speak with and take advice from other professionals before committing to any one client or website. Also, I learned websites or clients that require some form of up-front payment for a welcome kit are usually frauds. I once sent a $149.99 payment to a company for training materials and a set of DVDs before I took a job with them, and once I did, I never got one single assignment. It's the hard knocks in my professional career that have taught me the greatest lessons, I believe.
Believe it or not, I never went to college. I have a high school education, but I always excelled in English, grammar and literature. Therefore, the answer is no, I never used any university offered Career Services programs.
It's hard to say what I would change about my past professional career. I'd probably have to admit I still have times where I lack motivation. Freelance writing is something that requires a pretty serious work ethic. Being self-employed, I do not have a boss to scold me if I show up five or six minutes late for duty. I don't get fired if I fail to show up for work every day, but I can lose very valuable clients. I can only rely on myself to find work, complete it correctly, and turn it in by the client's specified deadline. The second thing I would change is hiring a website developer at the very beginning. Showcasing my work on my personal website has been a great help to me and has led to some pretty hefty successes, but it took up so much of my time in the beginning I could barely produce enough content to pay the bills. About a year ago I decided to hire a website developer to optimize and update my site for me, and I've never made a better decision. I just wish I would have made that decision a little sooner.
JustJobs.com is a job search engine that finds job listings from company career pages, other job boards, newspapers and associations. With one search, they help you find the job with your name on it.Image from Elnur/Shutterstock
