I’ve run JibberJobber since 2006 and have found that January through March or April is the time when most people are (finally!) really serious about their own career management.
December feels like a month when you can’t really do anything… people complain that it’s a horrible month for the job search. Employees are out of the office, on vacation, and hiring decisions are left until the new year… so why try?
When I was in my job search I didn’t care what holiday it might have been, or whether it was a weekend or 3 am. I had anxiety, and I felt a great sense of urgency to do something to end my unemployment! I wasn’t doing the right things, but I certainly wasn’t going to celebrate anything (like a national holiday) simply because everyone else was. It’s hard to feel festive when you feel like an incompetent.
What’s more, many job search coaches say the holidays are definitely a time to do job search stuff, even if you employ different tactics. But let’s say you doing believe any of that stuff… what COULD/SHOULD you do between now and January 2nd?
Whether in a job search or not, smart, astute, “self-driven” professionals are going do something. It might be as baby-step simple as listing 10 – 20 people they need to talk to, or 10 – 20 companies they want to network into come January.
It might be something as in-depth and time-consuming as writing a book (even if it is a small ebook) with the purpose of establishing and enhancing their personal brand.
That “something might be seriously considering, or starting, a side business, to create an alternative/multiple revenue stream and maybe even start down the path of 100% self-employment.
Depending on what your year (or last quarter) looked like, you might simply take this month off to do “nothing” – like read some books or articles you’ve been meaning to catch up on, take a real vacation and mentally, spiritually and physically recharge, to be ready for the next year.
Whatever you do, please don’t give up on December. Whether it is a strategic and very tactical job search to hopefully get some interviews or offers lined up in January, or a more long-term career management strategy, take the time to do something on purpose to finish out this year.
I can’t tell you what it should be – so you tell me… what will it be?
Nice post, Jason.
My time with a certain company came to an involuntary end 2 days ago. It’s now time to find the next place I will make use of my time, so December will not be a time of slowing down for me. There’s no love lost either – I had been ready to move on for a while. So instead of resentment or denial, I feel focused and a sense of productive urgency. I’ve taken it up as a challenge: I want to secure my next position in the month of December, well against the odds.