The recurrent myth that companies don’t hire during the holidays, is just that…a myth. Putting your job search on hold between Thanksgiving and New Year’s isn’t just a bad idea — it’s a self-fulfilling prophecy. Like hockey great Wayne Gretzky said, “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” If you’re not looking for a job during the holidays, you’re not going to find one.
 
Employers hire all 12 months of the year. In fact, many new positions are funded to start with a new budget year — which often coincides with a new calendar year. Other hiring managers have hiring budgets that must be spent before the end of the year — “use it or lose it.” Both of these scenarios offer opportunities for jobseekers in December. It can take time for a company to screen your resume, schedule an interview, create an offer, and decide if you're their next hire. So even if you submit a job application in December, you may not get a response until January.   

The holidays also offer some organic opportunities to network at company parties, social gatherings, end-of-the-year professional association events, and even Christmas cards and letters.
 
Working on your job search during the holidays may also mean less competition from other candidates who put their job search on hold. Many people wait until January — making it a New Year’s Resolution — to look for a new job. If you wait until January 2nd to start your job search, you’ll have more competition.
 
Even if you aren’t offered a job in December, you can lay a lot of the groundwork by making connections before the end of the year, making it more likely that you’ll be hired quickly in the New Year.
 
8 Ideas for Job Searching During the Holidays
Here are some specific strategies you can use in your holiday job search.

1. Accept all invitations you receive for holiday parties and get-togethers. Whether it’s a social or charity event, use these opportunities to reacquaint yourself with people who might be useful in your job search, and make new connections. Be sure to follow-up.
2. Re-connect with old friends and colleagues. Get back in touch with previous co-workers and supervisors, people from high school and college, and former neighbors, during the holidays
3. Host your own holiday party. It doesn’t have to be anything formal or elaborate. Hosting your own holiday open house, dinner party, or get-together can help jumpstart your job search. Extending an invitation is a great excuse to reach out and talk with someone you haven’t spoken to in a while!
4. Volunteer. There are many opportunities during the holidays to give your time to charities and organizations. Some of these opportunities might also help you build your network, make new connections, and bolster your résumé.
5. Create a business networking card. Develop a business card that lists your contact information and social media links — especially to your LinkedIn profile. You can use this in lieu of your normal business card — or instead of it, if you’re unemployed.
6. Update your social media presence. If you don’t yet have a LinkedIn profile, now is the time to create yours. If you have one, give it a fresh look. Is it time to update it? Can you increase your number of Connections — or solicit additional Recommendations?
7. Look for opportunities to get your foot in the door. If you’re currently unemployed, look for temporary or seasonal jobs that may lead to full-time positions.
8. Connect with recruiters. Many are trying to reach year-end recruiting goals at this time of the year, and you may have just the skills they are looking for.

 
 
While applying for jobs, don’t be surprised if you do not hear anything back right away. Many people use their accumulated vacation time before the end of the year, so you may find yourself waiting a bit longer than usual for a response to your résumé or job interview. Be patient, but persistent.
 
If it’s your goal to find a new job in the New Year, don’t put off your job search just because it’s the holiday season. A job search that starts in December gives you the opportunity to get hired before the end of the year — or to have momentum and a head start on other candidates once the calendar turns over on January 1.

Grab your Free Holiday Job Search E-book here: 
https://www.karavarner.com/career-mapping-worksheet-lm-1

4.4 million people quit their jobs in September 2021, as The Great Resignation rages on.

The pandemic has changed A LOT about job seeking, but you can get ahead of the 2022 curve.
With The Great Resignation, (individuals not going back to work, or leaving their jobs in record numbers) – opportunities are beginning to grow – again.

Now is the time to look for a new job or promotion in 2022… here are 4 reasons why.

1. Demand for goods will always remain high: Americans are still purchasing (mostly online). Workers are needed to sell, produce, process, and transport goods. The Labor Department reported 10.4 million job openings in September 2021 and an addition of over one half-million new jobs in October. Because of the high turnover in workers, companies/businesses are having to do more to attract and retain workers by offering better pay, flexibility and benefits.
2. With the signing of the $1M trillion Infrastructure by President Biden (a bill aimed to improve roads, bridges, and water systems across the United States), jobs in construction, manufacturing, logistics, supply, broadband, and transportation may reach over 1 million new jobs.
   
3. As the world continues to open up (a little at a time in an ebb and flow ratio), many events from 2019 and 2020 have been pushed into 2022. For example, we purchased tickets for Lion King, the play, for our daughter’s 16th birthday and they were just reissued for this month (2 years later) – Happy 18th birthday!Service based businesses now need administrative, technical, operational, and client facing staff for vacations, concerts, plays, weddings, conferences, and live events. A 37% jump in travel over this year is expected in 2022.
   
4. As employers struggle to find and keep employees, now is a good time to switch careers with less resistance or credentials or consider taking on additional work in your current job, while asking for a raise/promotion. Mature workers may also benefit from this unique hiring dynamic as well.
   

If you are looking for a new job, or different job in 2022, consider being part of a ‘great migration of one’ into the workforce rather than the great resignation. Set a goal with a deadline and start working towards your ideal career.

The end of the year is approaching and for some, that means an ‘End of Year Review’. Whether it is this year or within the first few months of the New Year… Are you ready, I mean REALLY ready? With such a competitive job search environment, it’s imperative that you bring your ‘A’ game, sing your praises, toot your own horn – well, you get the idea. In this day and age, when many companies are doing away with, or simply forgetting to complete annual/bi-annual appraisals for their employees, don’t think for a minute, that that is a good thing.
 
Without an appraisal – a formal document of your progress, status, initiative, impact, performance, and results – how do you quantify asking for a raise, increased responsibility, cross-training, or a well-deserved promotion?
 
I’m all about the quick read – so here are 7 things you can do RIGHT NOW to prepare for your next evaluation – and yes, one of them is to ASK for an appraisal.
 

1. The ‘I love me file’ (or book). I often work with military clients who have compiled a 2-3” binder of their evaluations, awards, certificates, and training. It is informally referred to as your I Love Me Book. Time for you to make one.

Here’s how: Gather all of your job-related documents and put them into a binder. You can separate jobs by tabs. You can include customer comments (emails/messages), thank you cards, letters of appreciation – anything that relays how stellar you truly are!
 

1. Spiral Time – Grab a spiral notebook or Google Doc (old school vs. new school) and keep track of ALL your accomplishments, achievements, times you had to take the lead, projects you lead or worked on, and cross-training you completed. This will become a great reference when you are asked to document your accomplishments for your evaluation and in your actual appraisal meeting. The recollection of all the contributions you have made can become justification for a raise or promotion.

 

1. Have your ‘Where do you see yourself in 3-5 years’ response down. Managers often want to know if and where you see yourself in the company’s future. Succession planning is a huge part of company strategy and even if you are unsure if you will still be with the company in 3-5 years, you want to be included in that planning – at least for now. Your response should not be canned, but rather a well thought out plan of improving your performance where you are, growing into the next role, and investing your performance in the company.

 

1. Part of the Big Picture: Speaking of investing in the company, this is where you want to relay your commitment to your position, your team, management (regardless of what level you are at) and the organization. Have 2 – 3 examples of how your work has ALREADY contributed to projects/programs, goals, and successes.

 

1. How have you helped others: Although a performance appraisal is all about you- it is important to demonstrate how you have helped your team members, subordinates, customers, and stakeholders achieve their goals. For example, how did you help a customer who was challenged resolve their issue, correct their problem, or educate them on a new process or service? How did you mentor your staff, set up communication workflows that increased productivity, or facilitate the ability for a team member/subordinate to get promoted?

 

1. What if you don’t have an evaluation on the schedule – at all? Time to advocate for yourself and your career. Ask for an evaluation and be prepared using steps 1-5.

 
If it just doesn’t seem to be happening, consider creating a word document of your accomplishments – using steps 1-5 and asking that it be included in your personnel file. Just because your company/manager is not conducting ‘formal’ performance appraisals currently, doesn’t mean that they won’t in the future. New leadership or a new manager may decide to ‘do things differently’ so you want to be prepared. This is also helpful in case your company is vulnerable to a merger or acquisition.
 
Lastly, in case you find that you’re just not as content as you used to be in your job, you’ve reached a glass ceiling, or greener pastures are calling you, steps 1-5 will have you ready for those intense job interviews!
 
Got you thinking about career planning? Grab your FREE Career Planning Map here:

 
Thinking about updating/rewriting your resume – here are two great options:
 

1. Do It Myself: https://www.karavarner.com/writeyourownresume
2. Get It Done for Me: www.aplatinumresume.com

As the work environment continues to shift during the ongoing Pandemic, it is only inevitable that people will react in many different ways. Covid-19, and a multitude of other personal, family, and exterior factors are causing a visible increase in stress, fear, anxiety, illness, safety accidents, ‘foggy brain’, and depression. It is only to be expected that these factors will creep into the workplace (home or at the office).
As a Manager and a Leader, it is important that you check in regularly and consistently on your staff and make sure they're taken care of.

Here are 5 Ways to Start Supporting Your Staff on a Deeper Level.

1. Start with the Foundation: Providing a safe (physical or virtual) working environment requires observing and communicating with the people you work with each day. Take some time to get to know your staff by expressing interest in their well-being, family, and professional pursuits. Speak to each staff member each day via in person, phone, or email (if possible).
2. Promote Engagement: Encourage engagement from your staff by sending out a ‘Question of the Day or Week’, or a Motivation Quote, or create a system that enables your staff to anonymously submit professional topics they would like to talk about. Creating a communication channel enables your staff to open up and be authentic. It also demonstrates that you value their input.
3. Mental Breaks: Within the constraints of your work policies, offer your staff as much flexibility as you can, inquire if people may need time off to care for sick loved ones or for their own mental health. This may involve documentation and approval however it is usually less costly to enable an employee to take some time now than to lose a valued staff member.
4. Lead from the Front: Communicate in an effective and positive manner. When you exhibit a level of calm, poise, and adaptability, it will help your staff feel more comfortable and at ease. It’s a social concept that when the Manager has everything (or appears to have everything) under control and exhibits an approachable, work-it-out kind of attitude; values and treats their staff with respect, employees are calmer and less stressed at work.
5. Birthdays: Sounds simple right. Make a list of all your staff members and their birthday with reminders in your phone, computer, or your admin’s system. Send an email or a tangible birthday card to each staff member on their birthday. Truth be told, it may be the ONLY birthday card/wishes that person gets.

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During these unprecedented times it's important to let others know they are heard, valued, cared for, and appreciated!
What difference will you make today? Hit me up on Facebook and let me know how you support your staff: https://www.facebook.com/APlatinumResume/

Click here to grab your FREE Career Planning Mapping Worksheet: https://www.karavarner.com/career-mapping-worksheet-lm

Do you need to update your resume or create a new resume? Contact us to have your resume created for you – www.aplatinumresume.com

Want to learn how to write your own resume from scratch? Sign up for the upcoming “How to Write Your Own Resume in a Weekend Course” here:
https://www.karavarner.com/writeyourownresume

Considering going into business for yourself: Check out: https://www.karavarner.com/resume-business-starter-course-wait-list and get your FREE Biz Planning Guide.

It’s been on your mind for a while now. Lately, you’ve noticed that it has become a constant thought – should you consider looking for another job – a better opportunity?

Here are 12 things to consider if you’re ready to jump ship, go in search of greener pastures, or need help deciding if you should just hit pause for a little longer…

1.You notice that your organization is starting to re-structure and change is coming your way.
2.There’s a glass ceiling and you’ve reached it, or will soon, and you want more.
3.You FELL in love with working remotely, but you’re having to go back into the office, and it doesn’t feel right for you.
4.You have NEVER been given NEW responsibilities.
5.You haven’t had an evaluation in years (and you’ve asked for one)
6.You get sick often or you have to force yourself to get up and go to work (every day) – you’re working environment has become toxic.
7.Your peers are leaving more often than before.
8.You’re bored, easily distracted, not motivated at all.
9.You haven’t seen a raise in 2 years (taking COVID into consideration.)
10.You’ve read up on challenges or problems the organization is having (bad press).
11.You KNOW you could be making more and can’t get it where you are currently working.
12.You’ve been thinking about the change in culture that evolved where job hopping is not as much of a stigma – so leaving is not viewed so negatively.
13.There’s just not enough for you to do – (the writing may be on the wall for you to be let go soon).
14.You no longer feel that you or your job has a purpose (that you can get behind).
15.You know an acquisition or merger is on the horizon (there will most likely be a reorg).

What to do next:
1.Dust off your resume – and update it!
2.Create a new resume or contact us to have one created for you – www.aplatinumresume.com
3.Sign up for the upcoming “How to Write Your Own Resume in a Weekend Course” here:
https://www.karavarner.com/writeyourownresume