Tips for Job Searching During the Holidays

 

Based on past trends, December is historically a slow hiring month. You can still find a short-term gig, holding a position that is limited to just the winter and year-end holidays. However, if you're not interested in such jobs, use your time productively when demand is not so high, and prepare for the upcoming job hiring season ahead.

Here are some tips to help you with job hunting for 2016:

Refresh your profile, experiences and skills.

You may have been busy the few months prior, so this is a great time for you to update your Harri profile. Add any new work experience and include any extra skills you have learned. Did you take any photos or videos of your work? If yes, showcase it on your Harri gallery.

Reconnect with contacts and references.

Reach out to the people you have met and connected with throughout the year. Whether you are contacting them because you want to say a simple hello or thank you, aim to email them a few days to a week after the new year. For one, they will most likely be occupied with urgent priorities during the holidays. You certainly do not want your message to be lost in a sea of other emails. If you want a reference, have a draft email prepared and ready to send out.

Clean up your social media.

Like how you do research on companies, employers may do a background check on you. They could possibly see your social activity on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. Make sure to clear off anything that could hurt your chances of earning a job. To be safe, make changes to your privacy settings.

Look through job boards and career pages.

Even though you don't see the job you want listed just yet, you can get a head start by skimming through the job boards. Go through the jobs and read the descriptions that seem similar to your dream job; keep note of such job titles. This will be really helpful when you do another job search in the future. Also, you should sign up for notifications for the types of jobs you want to apply for. On Harri, we make it easy for you, since you receive automatic alerts on certain jobs, including front-of-house or back-of-house specific positions, and more.

Best of luck to you and your job search in the new year!

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Benefits of Seasonal and Temporary Jobs

 

The holiday season is approaching very quickly, and businesses are in full hiring mode to prepare for the next few months. Therefore, there will be lots of part-time job openings around this time. It might seem like a step backward taking a short-term role, however, there are a quite a number of benefits. Here's why seasonal jobs are actually a good idea:

#1: Earning extra cash

The most obvious benefit is money, as you will be receiving a steady paycheck. You can potentially earn even more from generous tippers during the festive season.

#2: Gaining new experiences

You may learn some new skills from the job, which is always a big plus to your resume. These skills could also be applied to future roles. For example, money handling experience as a cashier can boost your chances when you apply to be a server later on.

#3: Updating your skills

If you have not been working for a while, you can use this time to refresh your skills. Update and improve your existing skill set and capabilities.

#4: Filling in gaps in your resume

Hiring managers typically like to see a consistent employment history, so temporary and seasonal positions help to fill those gaps. Additionally, it shows that you are diligent and is serious about seeking long-term work.

#5: Getting a reference

This is a great opportunity to network and meet more people in the industry. These connections can be great references when you look for work again.

#6: Transitioning into a full-time employee

If you work hard enough and impress your manager, you might receive a full-time offer. Or when the company does have an availability, they might contact you, since you are already familiar with operations. Your employer will be saving money and time because you will not have to be retrained.

So do take full advantage of the holiday labor demand; earn some extra money, skills, experiences and connections for the new year ahead.

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 Looking to work in Hospitality?

Discover who’s hiring on Harri

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Follow Harri on Facebook and Twitter

for real time job posts and industry news.