Job Searching During the Holidays

Job searching at anytime can be discouraging, butthe year. If you are able to secure an interview, don't
hang on because it is especially hard during thehesitate to ask the interviewer about the hiring time line.
holidays. In my experience, companies that are notAnother option to keep in mind; the holidays are a
retail focused tend to curtail their job openings towardgreat time to find seasonal work. Even if the seasonal
the end of the year. Some common reasons for notwork doesn't align with your skill set or background, this
hiring during the holidays include:is a good opportunity to fill employment gaps and to
- Staff are taking holiday vacations so there isn'tgain a little extra cash. You never know, it may even
enough time or personnel to train new staff members.lead to something more permanent or give you an in
- Departments may be waiting until the first of thetowards a job that does align more with your previous
year when a new budget becomes available. Near theexperiences.
end of the year, companies typically do not want to orYou may find yourself busy with the holidays just
are unable to take on any new costs.around the corner, but don't stop your job search. Try
On a more positive note, if a company is hiring towardto dedicate the same amount of time each day to
the end of the year, this typically indicates that the jobnetworking, browsing the job boards, conducting
opening is critical to the business and the companyfollow-up messaging, etc. Also make sure you are
needs that position filled. Other job openings may beavailable for hiring managers to contact you or
posted during the holiday season, but the company hasschedule interviews. Enjoy your holidays but the job
no intention of making an offer until after the first ofsearch must continue.