Should You Change Careers Over The Holidays?

If you are like me, the holidays are a time of enjoyment but also a time of stress. The thought of thinking about your career during this time can be overwhelming. Is it worth your time to try to pursue new opportunities? My answer is a resounding “yes”. Am I nuts? Maybe a little, but I believe there are some definite advantages to seeking a career change during the season.

First, the holidays are a perfect time to network. Christmas parties and social activities make connecting with others very easy. You can take advantage of these opportunities to ask people about upcoming openings and to get your name out there. It is a well know fact that employers would rather hire candidates who are referred to them by people they know.

Second, I know personally from my experience a recruiter, that there are less job seekers in the applicant pool in December. A lot of potential applicants put their job search on hold until after the holidays. Less people applying means your odds automatically increase for landing a job interview.

Another advantage of the holiday season is that the business environment is more relaxed and therefore the interview process is likely to be more relaxed. Because many people take vacations at this time, there is likely to be fewer interviews than normal. Fewer interviewers mean less people you have to impress.

Perhaps the most important reason for pursuing a new career opportunity in December is that the employer will already have your resume when the new budget year positions open in January. Your resume will be reviewed before the “wait until the holidays are over” applicants even apply. So take full advantage of the benefits that the holiday season offer for job seekers and get a head start on pursuing a rewarding career.

Stacy Harshman brings her experience as a recruiter for a Fortune 500 corporation to her work as a life and career coach. In addition to helping people discover their passions, she also provides clients with insight into the mind of a recruiter, unlocking the secrets of what employers look for in potential employees. Stacy offers individual and group coaching in person and by phone to those seeking positive change in their professional and personal lives.

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