Tips for Job Seekers to Survive the Holiday Season and Make the Most of It  

At a time of year when many people are celebrating year-end bonuses, family time, and much needed rest, millions of people are still unemployed, and many more are under-employed and planning an escape. For those who are struggling with long-term unemployment or extreme job dissatisfaction, here are some suggestions to help weather the time of year when you may not feel blessed or that next year is only going to be a repeat of this year.

First, work on your mental state. 

• Get in motion to change your e-motion. Tony Robbins is one of my go-to people for inspiration when I am not feeling totally motivated or inspired. In his Creating Lasting Change course, he talks about The Triad, or how someone can create a mental state. The Triad is physiology (the position your body is in), language (both your internal dialogue with and about yourself and the words you use to speak to others), and beliefs (your perceptions about the world, true or not). Robbins’ position, backed up by social psychologist Amy Cuddy, is that the first step to changing your mental state is to change your physiology. The easiest action to take when you find yourself in a stuck or less-than-positive mental state is to move your body. Sit or stand up straight, roll your shoulders back and let your chest rise. Perhaps you can get up and stretch, do a few jumping jacks, or take a walk. Move your body for at least 15 minutes. 

• Put things in perspective. Things can always be worse. No matter how bad you think you’ve got it, someone somewhere has it worse than you. Need evidence? For instant gratification, watch or listen to any mainstream media news outlet for about ten minutes. You’ll see or hear about a lot of people suffering far worse than you. Need more evidence? Volunteer to serve holiday meals at a homeless shelter. If you’re reading this post, you still have a phone, a computer, electricity, heat, food, water, a bed, a home, etc. Need I say more? 

• Make a conscious choice to see possibilities. Some job-seeking fatalists see doom and gloom, futility, and the world conspiring against them at every turn. No one wants to be around that person, and whether you realize it or not, your attitude precedes you. If you have a negative attitude when you are in job-seeking mode, it affects the available opportunities that come your way. Perhaps you haven’t been able to shake your resentment towards your former employer for laying you off. When you go on an interview, your resentment unwittingly colors your every answer, and you sink your own ship. Is it hard to maintain a sunny disposition and a positive attitude when you are unemployed or unhappy at work? Sure it is! Everyone everywhere has times when life isn’t always rainbows and butterflies. How you deal with it and how quickly you get through it determines the outcome. I coach many clients through this issue using the following ingredient in what I call my secret sauce. 

• Engage in daily self-care. I engage in what I’ve dubbed my BRAAVE daily routine. It’s a daily habit of investing in yourself in small ways that nurture and re-energize your mind, body, and spirit.  In addition to a daily ritual, I also have an extra-relaxing weekend ritual. I take a long, hot bath with Epsom salts and essential oils to give me a healthy yet luxurious feeling. I light candles, drink a glass of champagne or sparkling cider, listen to ambient music and just soak for a good 30 to 45 minutes. I don’t think about work or business or relationships or anything else stressful. I either meditate or I think about what I need spiritually or emotionally. I release my worries and fears, decompressing from the week. 

Second, double down on your efforts.

In December, your attitude about the hiring landscape and the potential job prospects needs to be invigorated. You need to act as if you are in Las Vegas or Atlantic City and double down on your efforts. The term double down originated with the game of blackjack; double the risk with the expectation of a higher return. In terms of doubling down in your job search, you’re not doubling your risk. Instead, you are going “all in” and betting on the surest possible bet: yourself. Doubling down professionally is tapping into your deepest resources of self-confidence and self-belief. It means committing fully to your success because you are the surest thing in your job search. When you double down on you, your chances of winning more interviews increases.

This is also the time of year when you will be attending lots of holiday parties personally and professionally. These events are where the magic happens, because, for one thing, you’re there! That puts you miles ahead of the other job seekers. It positions you in front of people during the most generous time of year. Think about it: you’re there on invitation of someone who knows you, likes you, and trusts you. That’s another feather in your cap.

So what does it mean to double down and how can you maximize the parties and dinners you’ll be attending?

• Say YES to every event you possibly can! You’ve worked hard to create and maintain these relationships, and it is a compliment to be invited to holiday events. Consider it an honor, graciously accept the invitation, and send a hand-written thank-you card afterward.
• Dress just a little nicer than expected so you stand out. I went to a holiday party over the weekend with a client who invited me as her guest. She said she was wearing a cocktail dress, so I did, too. Only a few of the other folks were dressed as nicely, so we stood out. Be careful not to overdo it. You don’t want to upstage the host or hostess.
• Be magnetic. People are attracted to people who are smiling, laughing, and having fun. This is a time of year to be celebrating and enjoying the relationships that you’ve created. When you are having a good time, people want to be around you. [Remember the Triad above?] When you are having fun at a holiday party, you attract the executives and hiring managers with your positive energy.
• Remember to meet lots of people and mingle among all the other guests. I attended an event recently with probably 30-40 people, and I can say confidently that I met and spoke with at least 20 of them. I made sure I spent a good amount of time talking with and getting to know all the people I met, and then after 20 or 30 minutes, I would move on to other groups and continue spreading holiday cheer. Avoid the tendency to latch onto one or two people and hang out with them all evening.
• Lead conversations with less business talk and more personal-relating talk. In other words, don’t start the conversation with, “What do you do?” Unless you are specifically at a networking event, make the focus of your conversation at holiday parties more personal. Find out how your new contact is affiliated with the host or hostess, what his or her travel plans are for the holiday season, etc.
• Remember to have business cards on hand. While you aren’t going to be leading with discussion about job search, you can still skillfully weave that into conversation when appropriate. When that executive or partner asks for your card, you’d better have one on hand!
• Follow up, follow up, follow up! After the party, whatever you said you were going to do, make sure you do it! If you didn’t commit to an action, I still strongly suggest you try to connect with as many of the folks as you can on LinkedIn and definitely send a handwritten thank-you card to the host and/or hostess. When you connect with your new contacts, if you initiated any conversations that you would like to continue, suggest a coffee or lunch meeting. This is the time of year when you have a higher likelihood of getting on someone’s calendar.

This time of year can put added stress on you, so take some time to get control of what’s going on between your ears. Remember, your attitude sets the tone for your success in job search. Roll the dice, take the bet, and double down in your job search efforts this month.