The New Year is upon us. This is the season to take a break; enjoy time with friends and family, and prepare for the New Year. One can easily lose themselves in the hustle and bustle of shopping and celebrating. It is also a time to assess our progress for the year; to express our gratitude to family, friends, and clients; and to make resolutions for the New Year. So, why wouldn’t you want to align your job search with the cultural expectations of the season? You may be new to the job market, or you may have been in search for many months. Whatever your situation, this is a great time to reflect, recharge, and regroup.
Reflect
Evaluate your Job Search Strategy for its relevance. Is your target Job/Industry Sector still viable? What about Plan B and Plan C? Are your plans still viable? This is a good time to validate your job search strategy. What activities were most helpful? Which were not? Who has been helpful to you? Have you been spending your time wisely? Make a point to do more of those activities that seem to be getting you closer to your goals, and less of those that aren’t.
Re-charge
Take a break, enjoy the season. Don’t quit all job search activities, but dial it back a bit to have time to gain perspective. Managers don’t stop their recruiting during the holiday season, but they do slow down their activity. Likewise you should change your priorities a bit. Make time for friends and family. Re-charge your batteries so to speak.
I know many people, employed and unemployed, who use this season to reach out to people who have had an impact on their lives. Sending Greeting Cards is an obvious way to say thank you to people who have been important to you. If you want to really make an impact try a phone call or a face to face meeting. I have been a bystander to one such call when I was doing a market tour with a subordinate. I can honestly say that the impact on my subordinate was profound! Reach out to your network to thank them for their support and to update them as to your plans.
Regroup
Ensure that your resume and cover letter is still relevant and pithy. Make sure that your Internet presence is current. Are you a participating member in relevant Industry/Career Interest Groups? Is your LinkedIn profile complete? Have you checked your Face Book account to ensure that it is aligned with your goals? God forbid that your Face Book account is counter-productive. You should consider starting a blog, even if it is just a chronicle of your job search. Set new goals and objectives for the completion of daily, weekly, and monthly activities. Have a system to track activities and measure progress toward your goals.
In summary, use the waning weeks of 2014 to reflect on your efforts; recharge your emotional account; and regroup by developing a revised plan for 2015. Express your gratitude to those who have been helpful, especially friends and family. Take stock of your efforts of 2014. Do more of those activities that took you closer to your goals, and less of those that did not. Develop revisions to your plan to include a system to track your efforts and your effectiveness. Align your job search to the traditions of the season to ensure a successful job search.
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Jim Weber, President
New Century Dynamics Executive Search
www.newcenturydynamics.com