Boost Your Job Search With Season’s Greetings
How the right mix of season’s greetings and (humble) self-promotion will help you land new job leads.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: The holidays are a great time to reconnect with your network. Whether it’s via email, an e-card or a traditional card, use your holiday greetings to benefit your job-search efforts. Here are five items to include in your holiday messages to keep your job search moving forward during the holiday season.
(1) Context
If you’re sending a note to someone you haven’t spoken to in a while, jog their memory. Mention when you last communicated with one another or how you first met. Don’t be afraid to personalize the message by bringing up little details you know about the person, such as a shared interest.
(2) Appreciation
This is a great opportunity to thank each recipient for their support over the past year. Whenever possible, be specific. Thank them for taking the time to speak with you about a particular company, or for introducing you to someone who works for your target employer.
(3) Updates
Use this message to communicate any developments in your job search and reiterate your career goals. For example, you might mention which organizations you’ve been speaking with, or what professional development activities you’re doing to keep your skills sharp. This is especially helpful to send to your professional references.
(4) Interest
If you’re reaching out to a recruiter or hiring manager whom you met in the past, reiterate your interest in working with their organization. This is especially useful if you made it to the final interview round but did not get the job. This way, if things don’t work out with the other candidate, you’ve done something nice to keep your brand top of mind.
(5) Call to action
Similar to your cover letters, your message should contain what marketers refer to as a “call to action.” Don’t leave the ball in their court. Close your message with a next step, such as an invitation to meet for coffee in the New Year. This will give you another reason to keep the communication going throughout January.
On behalf of Ask Amanda and Ladders, I’d like to wish you and your families the happiest of holidays and all the best in the New Year! Click on the following link to review a sample holiday greeting to send to an agency recruiter.
“Season’s Greetings” image courtesy of Paperless Post
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Boost Your Job Search With Season’s Greetings was originally published on Ladders, a publication dedicated to breaking news, opinion, analysis, and career advice at the cutting edge of our changing workplace. Sign up for our daily newsletter here.
