Now is NOT the time to take a break from your job search!

Job Hunting During Any Holiday Season Is a Worthwhile Strategy

CLICK on --
www.writearesume.biz

By Sinara Stull O'Donnell

The holiday season isn't relaxed for corporate recruiters or headhunters. In fact, the heat is on in December for many of them.

While working as an in-house recruiter for a major food manufacturer one year, I made a pact with my husband to be home on Christmas Eve by 7 p.m. We lived in Los Angeles and its infamous traffic problems made us somewhat indulgent about the exact time. Still, I didn't make it until nearly 9:30 p.m.

I was late because that morning, a hiring manager at my company selected a finalist for an opening. I was supposed to make the offer and complete all the paperwork before the manager left for a week's vacation. I negotiated back and forth all day and finished the offer only at about the time my husband was rolling into our driveway. The paperwork done at 8:30 p.m., I headed for Casa O'Donnell.

I'm not recounting this tale to portray myself as a martyr, although all sympathy is welcome. My Christmas Eve story is no different from many other recruiters'.

Positions close in December for lots of reasons, including:

Executive recruiters' commissions go up as the year progresses. They receive more from their companies on deals that close at the end of the year because they're paid on rising commission payout plans (their payout rises as their gross revenues rise).

Internal recruiters may feel pressure for budgetary reasons. "Hire him/her now. I may not have the funds in January."

Many sales organizations have kick-off meetings in January and want to include new hires.

Psychologically, recruiters want to tie up loose ends, such as unfulfilled job orders.

Yet job hunters often blow off the holidays because they view it as a dead hiring period. Nothing is further from the truth.

When calling job applicants in December, I've often heard: "I can't believe you called me this time of year." This doesn't make sense, since recruiters work a full month, except for the few days they take off around Christmas and New Year's.

In some cases, candidates resist coming for interviews in December. I've heard all kinds of excuses. Some are legitimate: "I'm flying out of town that day." Many were silly: "We're going to a party that night and, with the traffic, I don't think I had better drive in for an interview in the afternoon."

I felt like screaming, "Do you want the job or not?"

We made an effort to be flexible with applicants. We sometimes interviewed them by phone while they were away skiing or visiting family. Occasionally, we'd pay to fly a candidate to and from a vacation spot to interview.

Because of my recruiting background, I'm often sought out at gatherings for job-search advice. This time of year, the conversation typically starts with: "Well, I know it's dead in December, so I thought I'd hit it hard after the first of the year."

"Where did you get the idea it's dead in December?" I ask.

"Oh, it's common knowledge, and there aren't as many ads in the paper."

This common knowledge is a misconception. As for the ads, they may dwindle after Dec. 15, but that doesn't mean you should stop all job-search activity.

Many recruiting firms and most corporations list jobs online. Most provide the chance to apply online, and the last two weeks of December are a great time for this. It's also a good opportunity to do research, send targeted letters and network. You'll have laid the groundwork to get off to a good start in the new year.

You might even get a recruiter on the phone. While working for a search firm, I was holding the fort alone in our small office after Christmas. The candidate who phoned the office was surprised when I picked up. "Oh, I thought I'd get a machine," he said.

"Oh? How can help you?"

"Do you want me to call back when the office is open?"

"It is open."

"Are you one of the recruiters?"

After several more exchanges, I convinced him we were open for business between Christmas and New Year's. His disbelief reinforced my conviction that job seekers assume they get a pass to relax the last week in December.

Corporate offices don't shut down, either. As an employee, I've often seen activity increase markedly at the end of December. Perhaps we had too much sugar from the cookies and candies in the office, or maybe we had too-urgent deadlines, but there was a definite rush on to hire people.

Savvy candidates can take advantage of this urgency. They must be flexible enough to drop the wrapping paper for spur-of-the-moment interviews. Remember, job requisitions are sent to corporate staffing offices regardless of the date.

Unemployment may be high, but companies are still hiring and recruiters are still recruiting. December is just the last month of the year.

• Ms. O'Donnell is the principal of SinaraSpeaks, a professional-speaking firm in Springfield, Mo., specializing in career issues and humor in the workplace.