There is a common perception that the end of the year should be downtime for job seekers. However, the job market doesn’t take the holidays off. Therefore, you should keep your search going. Make the lack of applicants an advantage for you and your remote job search.
Your competition might choose to take a break during the holiday season. You should enjoy the holidays as well, but I encourage you to schedule some time to move your remote job search efforts ahead. Here are five strategies you can use to get a head start on your competition going into the new year: Create an action plan The holidays are often hectic. You may be entertaining guests or traveling. Take a look at your schedule and create time for remote job search activities. Can you pencil in some time to invest in your remote job search? If so, do it! Conduct a skill gap analysis Go to your favorite job board and examine job descriptions and requirements. These areas frequently contain useful information that can assist you in drafting job search documents such as your resume and cover letter. You can also use this information and time to see if there are any gaps in your skill set. If there are gaps, you should develop a plan on how you can improve this skill. For example, if many positions for a Social Media Specialist require that you know SEO and you don't have this ability, it might be time to learn it. In most cases, you will need to research your options to learn a skill. For this example, there is a free Google course on SEO. Be social Remember this is a cheerful and joyful time. You can foster and maintain critical relationships. Hiring professionals are still searching, and some are under pressure to fill roles before the year ends. Be social and manage your contacts during the holidays. You can use this time as a means to form connections and maintain relationships with your network. Invite key contacts out for a cup of coffee to catch up. Send holiday messages to people you worked with in the past and your more recent interviews. You can use this as a time to express your interest in working with them in the future while wishing them a fantastic holiday season. Pro Tip: Not everyone celebrates the same holiday. If you are unsure, happy holidays is the better option to ensure you don't offend anyone. Turn your social connection into opportunities There will be holiday parties, open houses and yes even virtual parties. I encourage you to check professional associations, Facebook groups, LinkedIn groups, Slack communities for holiday mixers and attend a few events. Before visiting any social gathering, craft and practice your elevator pitch. You want to be sure to tailor it to the audience. Pro Tip: If you are not a member of the Freelancers Union, you should check it out. It is free and has a ton of vital resources. They also host fabulous social events in many cities including a holiday happy hour event. Take advantage of holiday sales for your remote job search Why not capitalize on the holiday sales to help you with your remote job search efforts. You might consider redoing your home office where your interviews will take place, buy a new computer, office furniture or even have your resume evaluated. If your friends and family are asking you for gift ideas, maybe consider things to help you move your remote job search forward into the new year. Many of you asked me about Flexjobs and if the service is worth the pay. Flexjobs has an incredible database of scam free remote job opportunities evaluated by their team. The site compares to no other, and right now they are offering 30% off subscriptions. If you don't like the service, you can cancel. I have been a member for years just to see the opportunities out there. To take advantage of the savings, you must enter the promo code save30. You can see my review here. Here are some additional tips
Final thoughts Try to incorporate these suggestions into your plans during the holiday season, and you will have a great start over people who decide to take time off. I hope you have an incredible holiday season and we look forward to hearing your success stories. About Rita Rita is a freelance writer, consultant, professor and flex work enthusiast who enjoys the freedom and flexibility of working remotely. After starting remote work in 2011, she has continued to work remotely and currently enjoys the flexibility. Today, Rita continues to embrace the remote work lifestyle and encourages others to do what they love on their own terms. Be sure to follow the Guide to Working at Home where we share advice, jobs, tips for remote workers, freelancers, business owners to find flexible work and opportunities. Looking for Remote Work?
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2 Comments
12/1/2017 12:44:38 pm
I just discovered the Freelancer's Union and I love it! So many great resources and information.
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