THE WEEK OF THE YEAR that the most job offers are made and accepted is the week between Christmas and New Year’s.[1]
The reason the last week of the year is so packed with job offers is due to three things:
- People who were waiting for year-end bonuses before giving their notice, are ready to leave their positions. Yet employers still need the work to be done.
- Organizations and departments with December 31st fiscal year-ends either have to get people into position or they’ll lose that budget, or b) they have budgets beginning January 1 and want to get a person in place ASAP.
- People are just in the mood to give and receive so more of this activity extends to the job market as well.
So, this is a great time of year to be networking!
Opportunities come up suddenly at this time of year. Be out there. Be available. And if others offer to help, express that the key is for you to be seen as available and KLT - known, liked and trust. “Your personal referral,” you can say, “ is the best regard and referral I can have.”
If you have more time, you can tell them three things that will help them identify helpful contacts:
a. Tell them the type of work you would like to do. Maybe you can add the types of employers who use that kind of work. Telling them kinds instead of particular organizations helps them be creative and tap into the network that they have.
b. Tell them the kinds of people you would like to meet that could help introduce you to these types of employers, and
c. Tell them the 2 or 3 lines that people often say when they are frustrated and are in the throes[2] of needing someone like you.
It can be harder to reach people at this time of year, yet they are chattier when you do.
This is a great time of year to touch base with people you already know and ask them to reconnect. Even and especially if they are people you like, but haven’t seen in a long time (like a colleague from three jobs ago that you really enjoyed working with).
With these already-friends, you are more likely to get appointments and they are more likely to keep your interests in mind. Plus, these are easier networking conversations. They already know your strengths and you can relax and be personable with them, too.
When you are attempting to set up meetings with people who are new to you, you might try these words from Dominic Bonacci who recently concluded a very successful search:
The purpose of getting a cup of coffee was to get to the next cup of coffee. [I told them,] “I don't expect you to have a job to offer me but [to] learn enough about me to introduce me to a few more opportunities for coffee.”
[1] The exception to this is banking and financial services that work on year end closes. These people will have their turn in early January, before tax season gets into full swing.
[2] Throes is an old-fashioned expression I like because it’s sooo DRAMATIC!!!. It means, “intense or violent pain and struggle, especially accompanying birth, death, or great change,” (Google Dictionary), and this is how people sound when they really need someone like you.
