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I have a confession. I don't particularly enjoy eating turkey – in my opinion it's not very tasty, and roasting a whole turkey leaves your kitchen smelling for days. The grease gets everywhere. And just look at that bird - it's got a face that only a mother could love.
On the other hand, I love Thanksgiving, which we Americans commemorate by getting together with friends and family, eating lots of great foods other than turkey, and watching football (my wife is from Detroit, so catching the Lions is a must). And while it sounds trite, it's also a great time to reflect upon and give thanks for all the good things in our lives.
Although work is a major part of our lives, for many individuals Thanksgiving offers a professional respite. For better or for worse, many people take vacations from Thanksgiving until January 2, so if you're on the hunt for a new career opportunity this is generally the time when hiring managers aren't in the office and when many accounting departments put in place hiring freezes to tighten the P&L for Q4. In other words, if you get called for an interview or are extended a job offer during late November or December, you're the exception. But don't be surprised if you don't get many calls during the end of the year.
That said, if you're looking for a job, this is a fantastic time to polish up your resume and LinkedIn profile in preparation for the new year when hiring typically opens back up. And don't hesitate to apply for positions right now. There are also fewer people applying since they're in holiday mode, so the competition is a little bit lighter. And if a company really, really needs to fill a job, you will get a call – holidays or not.
And for those of you with retail, service, or other positions who are required to leave Thanksgiving dinner early to head to work, you have my heartfelt sympathy.
Scott Singer is the President and Founder of Insider Career Strategies Resume Writing & Career Coaching, a firm dedicated to guiding job seekers and companies through the job search and hiring process. Insider Career Strategies provides resume writing, LinkedIn profile development, and career coaching services, including a free resume review. You can email Scott Singer at scott.singer@insidercs.com, or via the website, www.insidercs.com.
