[jsfg_cinti] Job Hunting During The Holidays

As a follow-up to today's meeting, here's the full article on keeping
your job search alive for the holidays.  Makes a lot of sense.

Make it a great week and STAY ACTIVE!  Happy Thanksgiving to all.

Barbara J. Wilson
President, JSFG
513-233-0380
barbaraj718@xxxxxxxx

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4 Reasons Why Job Hunting During The Holidays Is Highly Productive 

In most people's minds, Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays are not the
best times to look for jobs. This is a misconception, according to Wayne
Richardson (a former executive recruiter, now with
www.ResumesForLeaders.com .) 

1. Fewer job seekers are active during a holiday season - this means
less competition. 
Many executive job seekers retreat during the holidays, believing their
time will be wasted. The reverse is true. Savvy shoppers know that
buying a car or a house in late November or December presents the best
opportunities. Your job search is no different. In essence, when you are
actively seeking jobs during a holiday season, you will often be one of
the few applicants for available openings. Your resume is less likely to
be lost in a pile and, statistically speaking, you will be more in
demand (to further ensure that your resume gets picked, learn 6 secrets
of effective resumes at: www.ResumesForLeaders.com ). 

2. Many companies have their fiscal year at the end of the year plan
adding new staff. 
For many companies, the end of a calendar year is time for planning.
Your timing often couldn't be better if you propose valid reasons why
you will be a great addition to their team in the coming year. As a
matter of fact, a good approach may be suggesting to employers that you
can help them make the next year more profitable and successful. Smart
employers will listen. 

3. Hiring decision makers are less resistant to your message. Holiday
cheer and celebrations bring a message of hope and a positive mindset to
most people. We are reminded of the joys and celebrations, and often
become more relaxed with people around us (unless we are desperately
looking for a last minute gift!). In essence, hiring decision makers are
just plain nicer during this time of the year. They are less prone to
reject your message and more likely to listen. 

4. It is often easier to arrange interviews and initiate productive
communication. 
While you may not get an offer on the spot, holiday season is an
excellent time to start negotiating with prospective employers. An
informal meeting is usually all it takes to get the ball rolling. During
that meeting, ideas are exchanged and mutual interest determined. Sounds
too easy? It is. No doubt you've heard stories of successful executives
who (during this time of the year) established very good contacts with
companies they wanted to work. These contacts became solid job offers a
few weeks down the road. 

Career Tip of The Week: How long should your resume be? Before you say
1-2 pages, consider the that John Lucht, one of America's foremost
executive recruiters and career experts, clearly suggests that suggests
that content quality and persuasiveness are more important than length.
If you've accomplished a lot, it's a mistake to dilute your message and
cramp everything on 1-2 pages. Often, having a more detailed resume is
desirable, and will make you look more compelling. When in doubt, have
two resume versions - one longer and one shorter. 







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