"At holiday events it's OK to talk about your job search and be specific about what kind of position you're looking for," Pollak says. "If you do have some great career conversations over eggnog and cookies, remember to send each person a connection request or a LinkedIn message early in the New Year to follow up on any leads and continue the conversation."
3. Follow Up
Use the myth that no one gets hired in December to your advantage, Pollak says. If job seekers aren't as active, you have a better chance of standing out to employers if you do submit an application.
"Any recruiter with active job openings is highly likely to check his or her inbox over the holidays, so make sure your application is there," she says.
Pollak also recommends following up your application with an additional message to the recruiter that says something like, "I wanted to follow up my application to position #12345 with a brief note to express my interest," she says. Then, mention something specific that you've read about the employer, such as a positive news story or an industry development.
"The process may not move forward until the New Year, but you'll show the employer that you're ready to hit the ground running," Pollak says.
4. Spruce Up Your LinkedIn Profile
Reflect on the last year and take time to update your profile with any accomplishments or details you think will be relevant to your job search, Pollak says.
"Did you take on a large volunteer project that demonstrates your organization skills? Did you start a professional blog you can link to your profile? Did you complete some freelance projects that you can share in the Projects section of your profile? You never know what might catch the eye of someone in your network who knows of a job opening," Pollak says.
Remember that as long as you have your activity broadcasts turned on in your LinkedIn profile settings, these updates will be pushed out to your network's activity streams--another opportunity to get on the radar of others, she says.
