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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This is a true story as told to JustJobs Academy which houses career interviews and job search advice for professionals in any industry.Visit to read about how to be precise and tame your ego on the job.
I have done internet marketing part-time for the past ten years. Last year, I made the move to become a full-time internet marketing professional.
Some people automatically thought I was trying out some kind of pyramid selling scheme when I told them I was making money online in my spare time.
Now that I do online marketing full-time, some of the same people are asking me to show them how to do it. My work has nothing to do with pyramid schemes, but it isn't as easy as people think either.
Some of the things I do to make money online include creating websites, writing content, updating social media sites, and promoting online products and services.
1. Creating Websites - Most of the time, the websites I create are for myself. In addition, sometimes I will set up a site for a small business that wants an online presence.
2. Writing Content - There are a lot of website owners online who are looking for people to write for them. I do occasional jobs through Fiverr, but most of my work is from higher paying clients who want articles or blog posts on their site. Other people pay me to create information products they can sell online.
3. Updating Social Media Sites - When I write website content for someone, I always offer to create and update a Facebook and Twitter page for them for an additional fee. Lots of places know they should have a social media presence, but they don't really know how to get started or keep it updated.
4. Promoting Online Products and Services - A lot of the money I make as a marketing professional comes from being an affiliate of various companies. That means the company pays me a commission. Three of the programs that pay the most consistently for me are Google Adsense, Amazon, and TangoWire.
On a scale of 1 to 10, I would rate my job satisfaction as a 7. When things are going the way they should, this job is wonderful. The problem for me is having to rely on other people for payment. I am working toward diversifying what I do online so that I am not overly reliant on one person or marketing method to make money.
Some aspects of being an internet marketing professional are amazing. The best part is that I have a lot of freedom. My hours are really flexible, and I get to be home with my family. If we want to take a road trip, I can work from anywhere I can pick up a WiFi signal on my laptop.
My previous job as an elementary school teacher helped me keep up with the research and writing skills I use as a marketing professional. The other people I know in this profession come from a wide variety of backgrounds. I think the only thing we all have in common is a drive to have the freedom that comes from working for yourself.
When I got started back in 2001, there were not as many opportunities to make money online. The first thing I did was get paid a few pennies for each website I visited on this network. I only made around $20 that first month, but I was so excited.
The first "real" money I made as a marketer was by promoting a dating site through TangoWire. You could use your own domain and were paid half of the money from anyone who opted for a paid membership. That and other affiliate programs brought me up to several hundred dollars a month.
In order to go full-time, I added writing and website work to the mix. Between affiliate marketing and those services, I was able to replace the income from my teaching job.
Now that I am working online full-time, I have met a lot of very successful marketers. They all have one thing I don't - a list of past customers.
The people with the biggest lists can make money each day just by sending out a new promotion. If I were to go back and do anything differently, I would have started my list years ago.
I do love working as an internet marketer, and if I'm not careful, I could end up being on the computer from the moment I wake up until the moment I go to sleep.
When I notice I am spending too much time online, I have to stop and set up a schedule that allows me to make the best use of my time.
Working as a marketing professional online gives me the freedom I have always wanted. Now it is up to me to make the most of that freedom by spending quality time with the people I love.
Job online marketing professional image from Bigstock
