The holidays are approaching…start networking!!

With the holidays fast approaching, many job seekers may be thinking about “taking a break” and putting their job search on hold until after the first of the year, since “no one is hiring right now anyways”. Wrong! Don’t be one of those people! The holiday season offers a great opportunity to expand your network and make valuable contacts that can assist in securing your next position. There are numerous social events that offer an excellent and informal opportunity to meet people that may be in a position to help you in your search. Your spouse’s employer, your professional organization, community and volunteer groups, your church or place of worship, your vendors, your customers, your college, fraternity and alumni groups are just a few examples of organizations that often have year end holiday parties or get togethers. Take advantage of these opportunities to meet new people, share ideas and leads, and make contacts. Experts agree that 75-80% of jobs are unadvertised and located through networking.

Networking: A path to the hidden job market.

Pools of unadvertised jobs are referred to as the "hidden job market" and are filled by people who know and inform other people, in other words, by those involved in the networking process.

It is sometimes said the best jobs don't make it to the "open market"; they are filled by word of mouth quickly or exclusively. Networking is your vehicle directly into the hidden market.

The Hidden Job Market is vast, as it contains:

1. Positions that soon will result from impending reorganizations
2. Planned openings as a result of new and unannounced corporate plans
3. Anticipated openings from emerging organizational or procedural problems
4. Jobs due open from impending retirements, resignations or from staff expansions
5. Jobs that will be advertised next week
6. Last month's jobs that weren't filled
7. Jobs released to only one placement agency

Remember, you are “not working” if you are “not networking!.”

Excerpts from Career Partners International - Bringing Great people and Great companies Together