If you think the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day is not a good time to follow up on job leads, think again. Yes, everyone is preoccupied with year-end details. There are lots of office parties and other distractions. Many take the week as vacation. There are a lot of apparently “good” reasons why not to look.
However, the fact remains, if a job is posted it is still available. There could be an extreme urgency to get that position filled. The company might want someone to start right after the first of the year, and they still haven’t found the best candidate.
Since many job seekers believe this is a bad time to look, the competitive pool is now smaller, and that can increase your chances of standing out. If you’ve already had an interview, following up this week demonstrates your continued interest and perseverance. Who knows, that might be all it takes to tip the balance in your favor.
In previous posts we’ve talked about how negative thinking, or believing something that isn’t true, can get in your way. The key is to challenge the validity of those thoughts. Ask your self if there are alternative possibilities. Look for a positive thought and take action. For example, “Companies are too busy to hire this time of year” should be replaced by “I have nothing to lose and everything to gain by following up right now.”
As I finished writing this post, I came across an article in The Wall Street Journal, http://on.wsj.com/vJ6XJA, confirming the wisdom to press on during the holiday season. I think you’ll find it interesting.
