RightToLead.com

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus…and sometimes he’s more than willing to get out of the workshop and away from the elves to deliver interviews to job seekers between the middle of December and the end of the year.

Be a contrarian. Be available to interview between now and December 31st. You’ll give yourself an instant advantage over all those who essentially stop looking for work this time of year.

Just about everyone assumes that absolutely nothing happens from an employment perspective at the end of the fourth quarter. Once Thanksgiving rolls around, nobody even thinks about staffing again until the middle of January, right? Not necessarily.

While it’s true that the pace of interviewing in aggregate slows toward the end of the year, that doesn’t mean there’s no activity. Not everyone is on vacation. There may actually be some urgency about getting various jobs filled before the end of the calendar year - which also may be the end of the fiscal depending on the company.

But wait - you’re thinking this year has got to be an exception due to the economy. Everybody knows the auto manufacturers are extending end-of-year plant closures…maybe that’s the case with other non-manufacturing industries, too. More layoffs are coming; that’s what all the economists are projecting. There can’t be anybody out there hiring - and certainly not over the holidays.

You might be surprised.

Know where to look. Remember, companies who are downsizing in one business unit may be hiring in another. Some sectors are still growing in spite of the downturn. There are also some excellent opportunities out there for those who are willing to work as contract labor (at all levels - middle- to senior-level executives).

Everything is not grinding to a halt. Make yourself available for interviews between now and the end of the year. Those who are working through the holidays sometimes have a little more schedule flexibility and additional time for interviews. You could reap the rewards if you make yourself available.