News
Tis The Season to Job Hunt
National Post | December 6 2006
HIRING IS BASED ON NEED, NOT THE CALENDAR: PSG Executive partner Lisa Price: “There’s a fine line ... don’t misinterpret that Christmas is a time of joy and fun but if you are savvy in your networking skills, it won’t look like you are promoting yourself.”
The upcoming holiday season brings its share of distractions to the workplace but for the determined job seeker looking to make the next career move, it offers advantages as well, according to executive recruiters.
“It’s a great time to look because for whatever reason there’s a misconception out there that nobody’s hiring at that time but they certainly are so there’s a lot fewer candidates going after the same job you are,” says Jeff Abram, president of SearchWest Inc. in Vancouver.
“Companies don’t have any seasonality generally but [hiring is] based on need,” Mr. Abram says. “Someone’s been transferred, there’s been a merger and/or acquisition, someone has been fired ... whatever the story is, there’s an opening and rarely do they hire just based on the calendar.”
Mr. Abram’s firm has placed a candidate on Dec. 28 but he admits that the holidays can slow the process. “The only real issue between Christmas and New Year’s Day is getting schedules co-ordinated ... anytime you’re placing someone or someone’s getting hired, at least two parties’ schedules are involved.” His firm usually shuts down during the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day, but he says this year it could be business as usual, given the present job market. “We can meet with people, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, there’s that much activity right now,” Mr. Abram says.
The holidays are also an opportune time to approach potential employers because of the slower pace as offices gear down.
“Most offices have at least a skeletal staff and if you do reach someone, because the office is less hectic, that person will actually take the time to finish sentences,” says Sussannah Kelly, managing director, Boyden global executive search in Toronto. “In January, offices ramp it up again.”
The holiday mood helps break through the general crustiness of business as usual. “I think people are in a more giving spirit and less nose to the grindstone because they are starting to think about the holidays ... and starting to think a little more of others,” says Michael Stern, Toronto–based executive search firm Michael Stern Associates.
“More people will be in their offices than you think and [if they are away] at the very least what you’ve done is leave a message for them reminding them that you are out there and alive when they get back and check their messages.”
Keeping a job search going through the holiday season can impress potential employers. “It gives a message to the person picking up your message in December or January, that here’s a go–getter who is committed to what they want to achieve and will keep the wheel turning even during a down time,” Mr. Stern says.
“A big part of this is being remembered when the opportunities are there and a big part of being in the right place at the right time involves being in a lot of places, lots of the time, which increases your chances.”
December marks the end of the fiscal year for many companies, and they’re planning for the next 12 months.
For job seekers, it represents opportunity; for existing employees, the news might not be as pleasant.
“A lot of companies are reorganizing; they’re looking at what they need to do for the upcoming year,” says Lisa Price, partner, PSG Executive, a Mississauga, Ont.–based recruitment firm.
“It’s the end of the fiscal year and they recognize that they have to clean house. So as we speak, they are offering [discharge] packages right now.” On a more positive note, the holiday season with its various parties and festive get–togethers offers the chance to widen the scope of your contacts. “I think that more and more, networking is the prevalent way of actually acquiring more senior positions. So take advantage of the season go out and enjoy yourself,” Ms. Price says. “By the same token, you are connecting with a lot of people, going to parties and social engagements, so take advantage of it to do some networking.”
Finding a new job is about timing, being in the right place at the right time, and revealing oneself and what kind of employment one is seeking. “If you don’t have those conversations it will never happen,” she says.
“It’s really about promoting yourself, and people have a hard time promoting themselves. There’s a fine line ... don’t misinterpret that Christmas is a time of joy and fun ... but if you are savvy in your networking skills ... it won’t look like you are promoting yourself.”
For Ms. Price, the holiday season is also about managing expectations both on the candidate’s part and on the company’s part. “I express to them that it is a difficult time to get people’s attention. So recruiters are still recruiting and companies are still hiring but we do take advantage of the slower time to take the time off and have a skeleton staff recruiting.”
Even if the recruitment process has moved forward, and the potential candidate has been interviewed and references checked, the final decision might be postponed until all the key executives are back in the office in January.
“A lot of people do take holidays ... so it’s hard to bring a forum together to make a final decision,” Ms. Kelly says. “But it’s certainly a time for phone calls and a time for mailings–old–fashioned mail, cards and thank you notes–and also time to network because of the social activity.”
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