New year, new job: Why you should apply for your dream job before Christmas
New year, new you? With Christmas only a month away, now is the time that many people evaluate their life choices; and their career is one of the main things they look at. With new year's resolutions on the mind and time ticking away, now is the time to get job applications sent before it’s too late.
When you think of December, it’s important not to think of it as a whole month, but more like two weeks. This is because many companies shut down for Christmas and prior to that, Christmas prep and parties tend to take their attention.
So why is it so important to apply for a new job before Christmas and how can you make sure you stand out from the crowd?
January typically sees a rush in applications due those who have evaluated the need to change jobs but have been waiting for the festive period to come to an end.
Beat the rush and get your name in front of the people that matter before Christmas – and don’t feel like this only has to apply to open job vacancies.
73% of our members are placed in to roles created specifically for them, as opposed to the 27% of the market that is advertising vacancies.
Here’s some tips to keep you time efficient in your job search.
1. Get your application in early
Time is precious and it can play a huge part in your career search. It’s important to remember that not only will employers be looking for you to start as soon as possible in the new year but there are also certain elements to consider such as notice periods, Christmas holidays and additional annual leave.
It’s important to remember that the sooner you get your application in, the sooner you can get an interview and a job offer.
2. Do your research
Do your research and show this within your cover letter when you apply. There’s nothing more positive for an employer than to see that you are already invested into the company and the brand.
If you can relay to the employer information about their company, values and beliefs, and how they align with yours, you are bound to impress them and earn some brownie points.
3. Be honest about your experience
Honesty really is the best policy and it’s important to be honest from the get-go about your experience and your confidence in the role you are applying for. Having an impressive CV is great, but if you attend an interview and it unravels that you don’t have the experience you say, then you will have wasted everyone’s time and created an unflattering image of yourself – ruling out future potential employers.
4. Communication is key
It’s important to be as communicative as possible, especially throughout the festive period, to ensure that everything can be done quickly before companies close for Christmas.
If you are applying for a role to begin in the new year, it’s important to keep in contact and ensure you don’t keep your potential employer waiting for too long. This can be off-putting for them, as well as frustrating, when trying to finalise a job offer before the Christmas period begins.
5. Be available
When searching for a new job before Christmas, it’s imperative to keep yourself available for phone calls and interviews because your window for fitting things in is much smaller than other times throughout the year. Check your emails regularly, be flexible with plans to accommodate for an interview and be readily available with your phone nearby in case they call you to offer you employment.
6. Be keen, but not too keen
Checking in on how your application is progressing can demonstrate your enthusiasm, but we advise against chasing progression too often. Ultimately, becoming a pest will result in the employer feeling pushed and potentially lower your chances of landing the job. A good period of time to wait to follow up your application is 7 days; and follow up an interview with a polite email expressing your feedback within 24 hours.
Greystone are hiring! See our current vacancies on our work for us page and apply today to give yourself the best chance of starting your new job in the new year.
