Keep up job hunt during holidays

December 5, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

McClatchy Newspapers

SACRAMENTO, Calif.

They don’t generate many headlines, but there are folks getting hired these days. Even during the holidays.

Brandon Persinger is one of the lucky ones. After enduring two layoffs and more than 12 months of unemployment, the Elk Grove, Calif., resident recently landed a full-time IT consulting position.

It’s not the same salary or prestigious title he once had, but Persinger is happy to be gainfully employed.

“I can’t tell you how great it feels to have a paycheck again,” the 55-year-old former IT manager said.

Contrary to what many job seekers may think, the holidays can be the best time to get employed.

“Many job-seekers make the mistake of putting their job search on hold during the holidays on the assumption that no one’s hiring in December,” said career consultant Naomi Kinert, owner of Career Focus in El Dorado Hills, Calif.

Given the number of job-hunters who get distracted or discouraged at year’s end, she noted, “those who stay in the [job hunt] game will have less competition” and potentially better odds of landing a permanent paycheck.

As the holiday season gets into full swing, here are some seasonal job-hunting how-tos:

MAKE THE CALLS

The holidays can be a good time to catch recruiters, hiring managers and others at work. “Oftentimes, work slows down a bit, the office is quiet and someone who normally wouldn’t have time may have a few minutes to talk or respond to your calls or e-mails,” said Kinert.

Use the time to request an informational interview, get your r sum in front of hiring managers, or just seek advice about the company culture and opportunities that might be available.

And always conclude any job-related conversation on two notes: An appreciative thank-you for taking the time to talk. And a request for recommendations of other people who could be helpful.

“You always want two or three other names to connect with ... to build a chain of contacts,” Kinert noted.

MEET AND GREET

Not everyone is comfortable on the business social circuit, but holiday gatherings — from professional association to chamber of commerce mixers — can put you in front of people who can help.

Some job-seekers want to hunker down behind their PCs, which is the reverse of what they should be doing: getting out there and socializing, says Kinert.

“Don’t be embarrassed by your situation,” said Kinert, who recommends having a 30-second standard greeting that’s positive and informative. When asked about your job, for instance, say: “Most recently I was with Intel, where I did XYZ, but my whole department was downsized. So now I’m excited about new possibilities, either at VSP or HP or ABC company.”

These social occasions can lead to what’s known as a “planned happenstance,” she said. “If you choose to not attend an event, you’ve decreased your chances of running into someone with that great lead on a job.”

But don’t show up with a stack of r sum s, said Ford R. Myers, a Philadelphia career coach and author of “Get the Job You Want Even When No One’s Hiring.”

Instead, bring a “simple, tasteful business card” with your name, phone number and e-mail address. “It will leave a better impression than a r sum at these events, which are more social in nature,” he said.

VOLUNTEER YOUR TIME

Helping others can help you in more ways than one, say hiring coaches.

Serving meals at a church shelter, helping to build a children’s center or handing out canned goods at the food bank can put you right alongside a CEO or hiring manager of a company you’re interested in, said Helen Scully, president of Scully Career Associates in Folsom, Calif.

“One of my clients volunteered on a political campaign recently and got introduced to someone at the Capitol who was hiring,” she noted.

Even if it doesn’t lead to a job, helping others, especially during the holidays, can lift your spirits and boost sagging morale.

BE SMART ONLINE

Job websites such as CareerBuilder.com and Monster.com are good places to post your r sum , Scully said, “but you have to refresh it every week, because many recruiters only search for the most current r sum s.”

To find openings, she recommends a “power job search” site such as Indeed.com that aggregates listings from multiple sites. “It’s like going to a big store, instead of all the single little stores,” Scully said.