Networking is one of the most important things you can do to support your job search. During the holidays, often people think it is time to put away their resumes until the new year, but that is not the case! The holidays can make for a great time to network and expand on your contacts. Check out these tips on how you can mix in career networking into this season's festivities.
1) Take Advantage of Holiday Events
Not everyone enjoys networking, but it can be very important to your career success! Take advantage of the many social events during the holidays to network in a friendly and safe environment.
With an array of celebrations with family, friends, colleagues and charitable and professional associations you are a part of, there are many opportunities to network at this time of year. With little effort, you can meet a large number of interesting people. It can be easy as letting your family and friends know what type of work you are interested in, you never know what valuable connections they could have. When meeting new people show an interest in their work, this can lead to interesting conversations and potentially start the beginning of a connection that could help you down the road.
2) Make Networking a Priority
Many managers have a bit of breathing room around the holidays if their job doesn't require significant year-end activity. With less meetings and fewer e-mails coming their way, they may be more inclined to meet up for a cup of coffee or engage in a conversation with you over the phone.
Reaching out to connections at a time that is better in their schedules can mean a greater chance for you getting what you want out of the conversation. They may be more willing to take some time to talk and listen to what you have to say.
3) Prepare for Opportunities
The key advantage of all this year-end networking is that employers often have new positions approved with the start of the new year. Perhaps the person you met with will have a need and will remember the positive impression you made. Maybe the position is in another part of the organization, but your contact can forward your resume with a note of recommendation. Or there's a chance you'll even be given a heads-up about a position that will be opening soon.
Make this holiday season a memorable one when it comes to advancing your career! To learn more tips on how to successfully network this holiday season, join us for one of our workshops! To find a workshop nearest to you, visit our Workshops & Events page on the Centre for Skills website: http://centreforskills.ca/workshops-and-events