Advice to Job Seekers: The Holidays are a Perfect Time to Scope Out New Opportunities

NEW YORK - Dec. 3, 2013 - PRLog -- Most people’s thoughts turn to holiday shopping, parties, year-end bonuses, and visiting with family and friends during the period between Thanksgiving and New Year’s. But, say experts at Harris Allied, a Manhattan-based executive search firm, these weeks can really be a boon for job seekers for a variety of reasons.

“While most people are thinking about other things besides work during the holidays, the fourth quarter has consistently shown to be a busy time for recruiters as companies clamor to get their open positions filled by the end of the year. The pressure to ‘use it or lose it’ really changes the game for job seekers,” says Kathy Harris, managing director of Harris Allied. “In addition, job seekers may find their networking contacts more receptive to discussing new opportunities because people are generally in a friendly, more social mood during this time of the year. Lastly, there may be less competition among job seekers for positions, as many employees are holding on until they get their year-end bonus check before they embark on their job search in the first quarter of the new year.”

Harris offers the following suggestions for job seekers to make the most of the opportunities that the holiday season brings:

Network all you can – The holidays are a great time to get in touch with former colleagues, employers and peers to do some networking. People’s schedules may be more relaxed and getting together to celebrate the holidays is a nice way to reconnect.

Company holiday parties offer opportunities – Company holiday parties are an ideal way to talk with people within your own organization that you don’t interact with on a regular basis. Make your interactions brief and leave a positive impression with those for whom you might like to work or whose department you’d like to join.

Network at holiday social events, too – Do not look at the neighborhood cocktail party like a job fair, but it’s perfectly acceptable try to meet people who might serve as a good new networking contact. Be professional yet social at all times.

Maintain decorum – As with any opportunity to network, keep alcohol consumption in check and do not engage in gossiping. Even though holiday parties are social events, you need to maintain a professional demeanor at all times, even after-hours. This is true whether you are looking for a new job or not.

Use the down time – Make the most of a more relaxed time of year to do some research about open positions and companies that you’re interested in. Spend time on the job boards and LinkedIn and keep your eyes and ears open at all times to new opportunities. Update your online brand by refreshing your LinkedIn and Facebook profiles, and remember to connect with all of your new contacts on LinkedIn.

Holiday networking includes social media – Make sure to connect with your Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter contacts frequently during the holidays. It’s the perfect time to build relationships and keep in touch.

“Every touch-point makes a difference, so network all you can during the holiday period and be open to changing jobs when fewer people are actively looking for that next great job,” says Harris.

About Harris Allied
Harris Allied provides premier executive search, technology and quant analyst placement services to the financial services, professional services, consumer goods, digital media and tech industries. The firm represents clients who are at a variety of growth stages: from tech start-ups to established industry leaders. Harris Allied’s client-centric approach allows the firm to objectively assess the strengths of qualified candidates and thoughtfully match them with the right opportunities. For more information visit www.harrisallied.com. To view Harris Allied’s corporate video, “For Each of Us, It Starts with a Moment,” visit www.youtube.com/harrisallied.