Job Search During the Holidays

The annual "Holiday season" here in the U.S. is underway!

A time of almost non-stop holiday commerce, including partying, shopping, eating, and drinking, it's the way that many Americans celebrate the closing of another year. We "ring out the old, and ring in the new."

Yet, these months can also be a rough time for many in our communities, a time of difficulty, stress, even sadness, depending upon what has transpired in your life. 

One group that often finds the Holidays to be a challenging time is the Unemployed. While others around them are shopping for presents and planning parties, job hunters may be weighted down by worry. Worry about money. Worry about the future.

Common questions that many job hunters wrestle with include, "How should I celebrate the holidays? Should I suspend my search at this time?"

While it is tempting to burrow into a hole and hibernate until after January 1, it's not a good idea. The holiday season is a festive time when many, even in business offices, lighten up and relax a bit. It's a time for office parties and even fun in the workplace.

It's actually a fine time to connect with others and share "tidings of great joy."

I'd like to suggest four ideas that job hunters can implement that will help during the festive period.  The four ideas spell out the word GIFT. Here they are.

Give - While children look forward to this time of year because they expect to get things, grown-ups know the joy of giving. And the greatest gift you can give is the gift of your self. Be the gift to others by giving your time, your attention, and your presence. 

There is a quote from Zig Ziglar that every job hunter must know: "You can have everything in life you want, if you will just help other people get what they want."

Experts in networking have always preached that the secret to doing it well is to be self-less. It's paradoxical. To approach what seems to be a selfish endeavor (Gotta get me a job!) by turning it completely around (How can I help you?) may be one of the most puzzling aspects of the job search for many people.

When you go to holiday events, be a Giver:

• Show interest in the other person - A typical job hunter practices their "elevator speech" so that, in a networking interaction, they are ready to talk about themselves. The Giving Approach says, Shine the spotlight on the other person. Show interest in them. Let them go first. Prompt them to tell you their elevator speech. Listen and ask about it. Ask about the progress they are making in their search.
• Ask the other person how you can help - Although you are looking for people who can help you, the Giving Approach says, Ask the other person what you can do to help them. You may be in a position to help them connect to someone in a company they are interested in. You may be a sounding board for the other person to work out their action plans. Or you may simply be a sympathetic listener.
• Follow up with the other person - The job search can get lonely. Much of the time you are not in the company of others. It can be a long stretch until the next group meeting sometimes. The Giving Approach says, Keep in touch with the other person. Call them up. Check in and ask how things are going.

The underlying power in the Giving Approach is that you are building relationships based upon generosity of spirit. Be the gift.

Invite - If you get invited to a party, don't turn it down. Instead, accept the invitation. If you don't get invited to a party, throw one yourself! Keep it modest if you have tightened your belt. All you need is a group of friends. Invite them to your place. If each person brings something to eat and drink, voila! you have a party!

Friends - Don't withdraw from people. Even though you may feel like it, resist that urge. Instead, push yourself out there and get into the mix with friends and family. You will feel much better.

Time - The martial arts movie star Bruce Lee once said "If you love life, don't waste time, for time is what life is made up of." If there is one theme that runs through this holiday season it is Love Life. Spend your time accordingly.

One of the maxims in effective time management is to ask yourself "What is the best use of my time right now?" You answer it by considering all the possible things you could do with the available time, considering such variables as importance, urgency, short-term needs, longer term goals, and the needs of others. 

At this festive time of year, Time itself, your time, may be one of the most precious gifts you can give.