December is traditionally a time for winding down the old year and looking forward to the new. Faced with mince pies to be eaten and gifts to be exchanged, it can be hard to keep your motivation up when you’re searching for your dream job.

You might think that recruiters are taking time out too but in fact they’ll still be busy looking for great candidates to fill exciting roles well into the holidays. If you’re still serious about looking, you’ll be taking advantage of the misconception that recruitment is slowing down.

So, resist the urge to completely relax during the festive season: there are still loads of opportunities for you to find your dream job. Below are handy tips from our co-founder Chris Mason, to keep you at the top of your game during the holiday season.

Job hunting in December

Schedule in time

It is easy to get distracted by Christmas distractions: making time to focus on your job hunt is really important. Whether it’s early in the morning when people are sleeping off the mulled wine, or in the mid-afternoon, fence off part of your day and dedicate it to answering e-mails, looking at site updates and keeping on top of LinkedIn for networking and latest jobs.

Make space for job hunting

It’s just as important to have a place you can concentrate, even if you have family to visit. If you spend a little time organising your job hunt online, using bookmarking, your e-mail and online task lists to track what you’ve applied for and monitor new opportunities, you’ll be able to access a neat guide to what’s going on wherever you are.

Now is the time to get all your paperwork in order so you can keep them neatly tucked away. A box file or a binder that fits into a backpack means you can work in whatever space is quiet in your house or even head out to a local café if it’s completely crazy at home.

Network

The holidays are a particularly social time of year. You’ll be seeing old friends, distant relatives and making new connections in an upbeat environment, so it’s a great opportunity to see what’s out there. Talk to people about what’s working for them and you’ll feel optimistic about what the future holds.

Enjoy yourself

Don’t let feeling guilty about job hunting ruin the holidays. By all means take a few days off the job hunt, and don’t worry if your application goals slip slightly as you head into the New Year. Though it’s important to keep momentum up, it’s also important to enjoy yourself so you can keep fresh well into the new year.

If you’re looking for a new role, contact us at Intelligent People today. Feel free to upload your CV and we will be in contact to help you find your next position.

Head Of Digital Director Jobs