If you think you need to pause your job hunt until the new year, think again. There’s no reason to wait until January to take action—you can use the holiday season to network and make progress toward your next career chapter. It’s all about reframing your perception of the holidays: The end of the year doesn’t necessarily have to be a time to retreat; it can also be a great time to reconnect. Identify some dormant connections in your industry whom you haven’t talked to in a while, like former colleagues or bosses or people you know from college or grad school, and reach out to them. You might send a holiday card, an email, or a simple text just checking in. However you choose to reach out, use the holidays and the end of the year as an “in” to ask about people’s lives, update them on how you’re doing, and eventually discuss your careers. Connecting with someone during this busy time of year might lead to a follow-up conversation some time in January—a great way to kick off the new year. Making a small gesture in the next couple of weeks could pay dividends in a matter of months.
This tip is adapted from “Don’t Pause Your Job Search Just Because It’s the Holidays,” by Samorn Selim

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