Tips and tools on how to advance your career

What makes you the candidate/ employee of choice? How are you progressing in your career? How are you leveraging your strengths as a professional communicator? Find out how to manage your career and get the inside edge on your professional development.

Read below for tips and insights on job searches, the changing job market and views from the recruiter's desk.

HOLIDAY NETWORKING: DOS AND DON'TS

Do

1. Attend holiday events. They can provide great opportunities to meet and greet in a more relaxed setting. This is a perfect place to get to know your colleagues. Take advantage by attending corporate and association events as well as charitable functions. Being seen is a good thing.

 
2. Be on good behavior. Be gracious and kind to employees and colleagues at all levels.

 
3. Drink a modest amount, if at all. You can still be dashing holding a glass of club soda and keep your smarts about you.

 
4. Mingle and get to know new people, especially if they are new to the company/organization. Help facilitate introductions. Often attendees can be uncomfortable in large social settings.

 
5. Carry your business cards. Make a notation on the back with date, function and note to jog the person’s memory before you give your card to a prospect.

 
6. Go on informational and exploratory interviews. Often business is conducted at a slower pace between Thanksgiving and Xmas, except for retail. This is a perfect time to learn more about a company, its culture and to meet employees within the organization.

 
7. Interview for jobs. Many jobs are filled in Q4, especially if budgets have been approved and candidates need to start by Q1 of the following year.

 
8. Send holiday cards. Be sensitive for differences in religion and observance. Keep your greetings simple and avoid any religious overtones. One safe tactic is to send greetings for Thanksgiving.

 
9. Send thank you notes to prospective employers or to people who are assisting you on your job search. Believe it or not, most people don’t. Not only is it the right thing to do but it also serves as a marketing/branding device on your own behalf.

 

Don't

1. Act inappropriately. Holiday events often bring out the best and worst in our personal and professional behavior. Remember, you are always being judged, whether you are on the job or off. How do you want to be remembered?

 
2. Drink to excess at holiday events. You may regret your actions later.

 
3. Tell any off color jokes, make obscene gestures or make fun of anyone. You be seen as being unprofessional and you risk being fired.

 
4. Badmouth anyone, especially former employees, coworkers or supervisors. The grapevine is especially powerful in spreading gossip.

 
5. Write anything online that can be misinterpreted. Be careful of what you write in email communications. Word travels fast, especially on community listservs and blogs.

 
6. Attack guests at events with your business cards. While there is a great deal of card exchange, the goal is not to amass cards by the bucket. Better to establish relationships with potential for follow up than to “hit’ on attendees.

 

2007. Lynn Hazan & Associates. All rights reserved

Expert Job Advice From Lynn Hazan

More Job Advice:

Dos and Don'ts of Interviewing

Helpful Hints for Job Seekers in 2007

How to Flub an Interview