Ah, it’s time for winter break. In half the world anyway!
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Whether you’re a student, a recent grad, or an experienced professional, who doesn’t look forward to this time when really, the whole world’s expectations for productivity drops a few barrels?
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And if you’re in a job or internship search, I know what you are thinking. Kick back. Have some eggnog, relax, and enjoy. And you should! 2014 was a big year!
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Once the holidays are over, the frenetic nature of the New Year begins!
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I know this because every year in January, my phone starts ringing off the hook. So for sure, whatever you’re doing, will amp up a bit.
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If you’re in the job hunt, I want to give you a couple of good ideas to get ready for the new year without totally forsaking your job search over the break.
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Get ready for January now by taking a few easy steps during this seasonal lull.
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1. Get your job search space tidied up.
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The job market continues to improve, and more people are voluntarily leaving jobs than at any time since April 2008. That means churn in the workplace.
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Because when people quit, typically other people need to be hired.
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So organize yourself and your workspace for the January job search. Make sure you have paper and ink for the printer. Have plenty of business cards, work product or any other interview materials you’ll use next month.
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You’ll be all set when the job search is on in full force in the New Year.
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2. Give some LinkedIn love.
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Have you worked with someone extraordinary this year? Did someone in your network help you on your job search?
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Take some time to write them a recommendation on LinkedIn.
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Yep, you can do this even if they don’t ask you to! Unsolicited recommendations are a lovely surprise, and will be very much appreciated by the recipient. Think of it as giving a gift that doesn’t cost you a thing.
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Come up with 5 people who have really inspired you this year, and write them a recommendation on LinkedIn.
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3. Find interview duds on sale.
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Maybe you’ll find some great gift certificates in your stocking this year. If so, invest in yourself by getting some great interview outfits in the post holiday sales.
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Wearing an outfit in which you look great and feel confident does wonders for your interview attitude. Take time to think ahead about what you’ll wear and how you’ll accessorize for an interview.
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One thing about interviews is that they often come up on very short notice. If you have your outfits all figured out, then you’ll be able to focus what time you DO have on research and interview prep.
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4. Reflect and observe.
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I was chatting with a client last night about what was going well, and what he would like to work on doing better in his job search.
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We had lots of conversation around interviews, meeting with managers who didn’t seem prepared to conduct an interview, having interviews with people who appeared hostile (quite interesting!) getting called back and rejected by the same company – twice.
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Sure, there are many reasons that cause frustration in the job search. Take a few moments though, to focus on the things you’ve done well and that you want to build on.
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Then take some time to think about new strategies and techniques that can help you perform better in interviews, and get more offers!
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Check out these posts to see how you can up your interview game:
- http://degreesoftransition.com/2014/04/02/3-things-youre-getting-wrong-about-interviews/
- http://degreesoftransition.com/2013/08/28/6-steps-to-a-better-interview-delivery/
- http://degreesoftransition.com/2013/08/15/3-things-you-must-do-in-every-interview/
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2015 is going to be a busy year in the career space. I can’t wait to see what unfolds for you!
Copyright: elenabsl / 123RF Stock Photo