Sending Out Resumes On Holiday Week?

[Mitchell]

General question for those forum members like myself, who are looking for jobs.

Do you send out resumes to companies on holidays, like Christmas, and Between Christmas and New Years?

Someone advised me not to send anything out until after the 1st, but I think I have to keep trying.

I sent one reply to a company today, and was told I will not receive a reply until January 4th or after.

I have one interview on Friday, but other than that all seems quiet.

So that's the question: Resumes on holiday week, or wait til after the 1st?

 

[rdhd]

I've always been told to avoid the holiday times - few are there to even look at it, and it might get lost under other paperwork that piles up on whoever's desk. Not sure how it works if submitted electronically.

 

[Mitchell]

Thanks, rdhd.

My aunt the artist advised me not to even send things out this week.

The thing is: I feel like if I don't send out, I do nothing, and I'm sitting here not even trying.

As I said before, I do have one interview on Friday, so at least something productive will happen this week, even if no one else replies.

 

[JJB]

Wait until after the New Year. Not only are most decision makers gone for the holidays, but companies in general won't start hiring until January anyway.

Your motivation to stay active is good though, so you could do more research into the types of companies you'd like to work for while you wait until 2015 to start applying again.

Not all job openings are published, so if you like a company and feel like you might be a fit (even though they didn't post a job opening), you can still write them, introduce yourself, and get your name out there. Are you on LinkedIn? It's a great resource for some, overrated to others, but since you have the time right now, maybe you should explore that avenue more as well.

Merry Christmas and good luck.

 

[Mitchell]

Thanks, JJB. Merry Christmas to you too. Hope you had a great holiday.

I do have a LinkedIn account, but haven't used it in a while.

I see your point about waiting until after the 1st. As I said before, I feel dormant if I don't do anything.

I'll size up what jobs are posted to see what else I send out in the next ten days.

 

[kopfhorer]

Good on ya for being proactive (sorry your last gig didn't work out).

For whatever it's worth, I'd wait until after the holidays, by which time the various human-resources peoples' hangovers will have abated!

 

[Mitchell]

Thanks, kop.

Part of the reason I think I also send out things now.. is because.. I feel for whatever its worth.. that I want to "Make up for lost time". I took ten days off to clear my head in mid November, after I left Aflac, and didn't do anything then, so maybe its just that I want to feel like I'm doing something, to make up for that period.

I may not send out any more until Monday the 5th. A friend is coming out here to spend New Years with me from Wednesday to Friday, so I couldn't have any interviews past.. Tuesday anyway. Unless maybe I send out some today, and then after that, hold off until after the 1st, unless something sent today, were to result in an interview on Monday or Tuesday.

 

[Mitchell]

I had an interview today, and have another one on Monday. After that, I honestly wouldn't be upset if I didn't have any more until the 5th or later. Monday's interview will make my seventh one in less than two weeks.

In all likelihood, even if I get a job soon, it wont happen until after January 5th anyway.

 

[wolfman40]

Good luck in your job search, a horrible time to be looking..

I bitch and moan about my job all the time, but I have a nice week off now till the 5th, so I can see pals, drink make merry and relax

 

[Mitchell]

Thanks, wolfman.

I know that its not a good time to be looking. I had talked to a temp agency a few weeks back, and the lady told me she had absolutely nothing until after the 1st. I'm going to contact her again on Tuesday the 6th.

 

[Ms Regan Black]

Hi, mitchell-

I will concur with most of the other posters. Most (not all, but most) people in HR or hiring positions will either be out of the office or working on end of the year projects/issues. Unless it's a new job posting that needs an immediate response, it is really wisest to wait until after the holidays to send a resume. It will not be looked at now and may well be discarded, which you certainly do not want.
It's hard to not be 100% into the job search because not doing it feels like you are wasting time, but companies are just not focused on that this time of year. I can suggest using this opportunity to work on something which enhances the skills/experience on your resume, such as start learning another language, become a notary, audit a winter break class, etc. Even if it's spending eight hours a day watching software tutorials online to increase your knowledge, the more you know and are able to do, not only does your confidence increase, you become more appealing to potential employers.

Hope your interview went well.

Regards
-Ms Black

 

[Mitchell]

Thanks, Ms Black.

Actually, I'm glad I haven't been dormant. I have three interviews this week. Two in person interviews on Monday, and a phone interview on Tuesday.

After these I may take a break. As I mentioned, I have a friend visiting me for New Years, and I wouldn't really be available to meet someone on Wednesday or Friday anyway. Maybe after he leaves Friday, I could send out replies to ads, to make interviews for Monday the 5th or after.

 

[Sodahead]

I'm not as experienced as some of the posters here, but I'll lend you my opinion. I think it depends on your line of work. I do freelance type stuff at different events and I've actually been working pretty steadily for the past few days. I've been handing out business cards to a few folks and exchanging emails while my face to face interaction is still fresh on their minds.

But yeah, I suppose many places are closed until after the new year so it's probably best to wait until then. I think folks on this thread are right on the money. Just hold off for a few days and do something else productive, so I'd listen to their advice before mine.

 

[Mitchell]

As I stated earlier, I do have three interviews in the next 36 hours. Two in person interviews, with two different companies, tomorrow morning and afternoon, and a phone interview with a third company Tuesday morning.

After that, unless I unexpectedly get a job in the next few days, I think I'm going to hold off until next Monday. I have a friend visiting me from Wed to Fri for New Years, and wont be able to concentrate to upload, and cut and paste, resumes to job websites anyway.

 

[rdhd]

Well, Mitch, considering the number of interviews you've had/got set up at this time of year, I guess you made us all look like monkeys (or, as Kimbum jum calls them, Obama). And, there was nothing wrong with you taking time off after giving up the Aflac position - many professional sites recommend that after being fired/laid off/or just giving up; get the bad feelings out of your head (as best you can), then forge on. Good luck with the upcoming interviews, and good luck overall.

 

[Mitchell]

Thanks, rd.

Of course, it isn't my intent to "Show up" anyone. This is merely personal choice.

Probably, had I not taken off after leaving Aflac, and gotten right to work, I might have taken a break this week.

I actually really didn't start looking until 12 days after I left Aflac. I resigned on November 5th, and didn't even start looking until the 17th. Then I lost a week during Thanksgiving.

After my interview Tuesday, I think I am going to take a few days off. My friend will be here from Wed to Fri, then there;s the weekend. Unless I hear back from a company I previously sent something out to, it might be a good time to take a couple of days off, especially with another holiday weekend coming up.