How to Maintain Job Search Momentum Through the Holidays

How to Maintain Job Search Momentum Through the HolidaysHow to Maintain Job Search Momentum Through the HolidaysWith the holiday season upon us, its the perfect time to relax and put hard work- like searching for a new job- on hold.Or is it?Youll notlageice that businesses are still open during these festive times. Companies are pushing to meet annual goals, and theyre planning for the coming year. Look past the parties and decorations and dinners, and youll landsee that work is getting done.That means this is a great time to maintain your job search momentum, although you might want to change it up a bit to overcome distractions and take the peculiarities of the season into account. Here are some suggestions to help you keep your job search momentum going as you search during the holidaysFocus on accountability.This may seem obvious, but youll be more likely to beat back those holiday distractions if youre accountable to someone- even if that someone is you. As noted in a previous p ost on this blog, You can use a daily or weekly checklist to see if youre perusing enough positions, applying for a good amount of jobs, and even if youve taken the steps to have a clean online presence. Having a guideline can help you see clearly if youre meeting your own job search goals or not.Be prepared for new networking opportunities.As you attend holiday parties with family members, friends, and acquaintances, look for opportunities to build your network. This can be a bit more complicated than usual at this time of year, as you dont want to be too blunt about business when people are trying to focus on the fun of the holidays. But if youre prepared and tread lightly, you might be able to make some contacts who will help your search in the new year.Volunteer for a worthy cause.This can help with networking in your local market, but the value of volunteering goes beyond that. As noted in a blog post from JohnGSelf Partners, Offering a helping hand to those who need support is a powerful fuel to enrich your soul, your energy and your outlook on life. This will carry over to 2018 and your job search.Develop new skills.If youve always wanted to learn how to use a certain app or earn a certification in an area thats outside your comfort zone, this might be the perfect time to take a course or investigate educational possibilities. By building your skills, you make yourself more marketable. And gaining knowledge is sure to keep you motivated as you search for something new.Catch up on your reading.Many people complain that its hard for them to find time to read all of the business books theyd like to explore. If youre not getting as many calls from potential employers during the holiday season, choose the top three books on your nightstand and make a goal to read them all before the start of the new year. Again, you will likely find that learning new things helps you stay focused on your larger goal.Find different targets.Sometimes all you need in order to keep moving forward during the holidays is a little freshening up of your search. A blog post from GetFive offers good advice in this regard, saying you should use any slow times to hunker down at the computer to do more research and expand your job targets. Keep in mind the importance of pursing a varietyof job options.Develop positive habits.If youre struggling with distractions, try picking up a new habit that will feed your momentum. Keeping a journal is a money-in-the-bank move to strengthen you personally, says the JohnGSelf blog post. You should also begin journaling those things in life for which you are grateful. Dr. Johnny Parker turned me on to this practice, and I immediately sensed an uptick in my attitude and level of confidence. Others that have started journaling gratitude have reported similar positive effects.These are just a few ideas to help you maintain a focused and active search while holiday festivities are swirling around you. If you manage to avoid distract ions and stay on course, youll be that much better off when job hunting normalcy returns in the new year.Search for Jobs