“Should You Put Your Job Search on Hold for the Holidays?”

As college students pack up and depart campus and grades get finalized, a protracted winter break is likely to be simply the reprieve you want. You’ve earned it after the whirlwind sprint to the end line. For these of you in a job search, you is likely to be questioning for those who ought to put it on pause for the holidays. Even for those who’re between jobs, you is likely to be trying for an excuse for a break from the slog. So, is the winter break a time for relaxation and recreation (R&R), or is completely ditching your job search for December and January a mistake? Are there actually any jobs being posted? Is any interviewing or hiring taking place? Let’s begin with some numbers first.

When you would possibly assume there isn’t any use job looking in December since most schools and universities are on winter break, traditionally, HigherEdJobs has solely seen a marginal drop-off in job postings in December. In December 2021 and January 2022, over 35,000 jobs have been posted to HigherEdJobs every month. For comparability, we publish round 41,000 jobs per 30 days on common.

On the flip aspect, typically, search committee and hiring exercise tapers off right now.

“After finals and earlier than the holidays begins a sort of ‘black out’ interval for quite a lot of work,” says Mark Coldren, affiliate vice chairman of human sources at the College at Buffalo. “This will normally final proper via to the third week or so of January when the spring semester begins. There are programs supplied generally over the breaks — many on-line or small workshop experiences — however by and enormous, it’s a time the place there’s very low exercise on a campus. Given all that, it is rather predictable that there is not going to be an excessive amount of search committee exercise, candidate screening, or on-campus interviews for open positions. Even employees roles appear to observe together with this.”

So, what does this dichotomy imply for job seekers?

There is a case to be made that even when jobs are being posted, if the candidate screening and hiring course of is on maintain, you may safely resume your search in mid-January with out lacking your golden alternative. Nonetheless, which may lead to a backlog of job functions to finish come January 15^th or so. Moderately than abandoning your search for weeks, a greater technique is to easily reduce. You ought to intention for a steadiness between R&R and productiveness.

“One efficient solution to strike this steadiness is to set clear targets and priorities for your job search throughout this time,” advises Scott Winstead, founder and editor-in-chief of MyElearningWorld.com. “This will embody figuring out the kinds of positions you have an interest in, researching potential employers, and networking with contacts in your discipline. By setting clear targets, you may keep targeted and motivated throughout your job search, whereas additionally permitting your self the time and house to recharge and calm down.”

Your targets would possibly embody a sure variety of job functions accomplished. Alternatively, why not set a small window of time to overview job openings, put together functions, and/or contact base with contacts who might profit your job search? It ought to be a shorter timeframe than you typically allot to make sure you’re getting the much-deserved break over the holidays and in a position to spend time with household and buddies, however sufficient time to forestall an amazing workload after winter break.

If the considered making use of for jobs over the holidays simply is not sitting nicely with you, focus on different targets (maybe much less tedious) that can in the end profit your search.

“Take into accout, that we’ve a broad definition of ‘job search,'” Mark Phillips of HireEducation reminds us. “The vacations are a good time to refresh contact together with your community, to ship vacation greetings, to verify in about plans for the new yr, to attach with mentors and mentees, and many others. The good factor about this sort of exercise is that, as a result of persons are taking issues slightly bit straightforward (when it comes to work, at the least), you are extra prone to have a real, human interplay throughout the holidays than at different occasions of the yr.”

The vacations have been meant for connecting and networking. It is the excellent time to ship a vacation card or letter (whereby you may point out your search for a brand new place), arrange informational interviews (at a time when work is slower and quieter for individuals you want to talk with), and make the most of social occasions in your skilled and private realm which may be fruitful for networking. Be trustworthy and upfront about the place you might be in your search. You might discover somebody who has a fantastic contact for you to attach with.

Briefly, your job search would possibly look completely different over winter break. It is okay if you want to put it on pause to revive your power (and possibly even sanity), however jobs are nonetheless being posted and alternatives abound for connecting with and increasing your community. In case you can strike a steadiness, you possibly can land that new job in the new yr.

P.S. Now can be a good time to verify your account settings on HigherEdJobs to make sure you’re receiving the proper jobs in your Job Agent electronic mail, displaying up in our resume database if you wish to be, and on all of your desired electronic mail distribution lists.