Tuesday Tips: 5 Reasons to Keep Job Searching During the Holiday Season

If you are looking for a job, you may be looking forward to the week between Christmas and New Year. Perhaps you think this national “downtime” will mean a week-off from the depressing grind of looking for a job. Sorry to burst your bubble, but a good job hunter knows that there is no such thing as a vacation from your job search.

No, not even during the week between Christmas and New Year’s. Here are five reasons you should keep looking:

1. Companies have already determined their hiring plan for the first quarter of 2010 — and they have allocated the funds for their new employee’s salary. That means they are interviewing and making job offers now. Don’t miss that boat!
2. Your competition is taking the week off, which means it’s easier for your cream to rise to the top of the resume pile. (Ack, mixed metaphor, sorry!) If you apply to a company that is looking to hire quickly, you will get noticed faster.
3. You might have better luck reaching company execs during the week. While many administrative assistants take off the week between Christmas and New Year’s, execs often stay a the office to finish up year-end reports.
4. January is typically the busiest recruiting month of the year. If you want to get a leg-up on your competition, get your resumes into the career head hunters before the New Year.
5. Pounding the pavement — even during the holiday season — proves to potential employers that you aren’t afraid to take initiative. By sending out resumes, making follow-up calls and engaging in networking meetings, you are showing that you are supremely dedicated. That’s a quality that every boss appreciates!

If you need some tips on how to maximize your job search this time of year, check out these 5 Tips for Job Hunting During the Holiday Season.

Happy Holidays!