Features : Job hunting at Christmas

Counting down to Christmas already? Don’t relax yet. With reports that 2012 is set to be even harder than this year, balance out your festive fun with job-hunting joy.

It has been a hard year. As 2011 draws to a close, jobs are increasingly hard to come by, the economy is still in crisis and the country is in a rebellious mood.

The headlines have grown worse as the year has progressed. In January we were told that ‘graduate unemployment was at its highest rate for over a decade’ (BBC). By July, ‘one in 10 graduates was unemployed’ (Telegraph). Last month, youth unemployment broke the one million barrier, meaning that one in five young people aged 16-24 is unemployed.

It’s enough to make you want to forget all about job searching over Christmas and down mulled wine while watching endless reruns of Scrooge in front of your parents’ fire instead. 

Recruitment freeze

However, now is not the time to hibernate. According to figures released by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) , things could be about to get even worse for young people.

Its most recent survey found that more employers were planning on freezing recruitment, in order to cut back on redundancies - a move which will disproportionately affect young people looking to get into work for the first time. The CIPD also predicted that recruitment freezes will continue well into 2012. To find out which companies are still recruiting search graduate jobs.

‘The figures point to a slow, painful contraction in the job market. Many firms appear to be locked in ‘wait and see’ mode, with some companies scaling back on employment decisions against a backdrop of increasing uncertainty as a result of the Eurozone crisis and wider global economic turmoil,’ explains CIPD public policy adviser Gerwyn Davies.

‘The good news resulting from this lull in business activity is that fewer employers are looking to relocate abroad or make redundancies. The downside is that recruitment intentions are falling, which will make further rises in unemployment therefore seem inevitable. There is no immediate sign of UK labour market conditions improving in the short or medium term,’ he adds.

So, how can you spend the last few days of 2011 making sure 2012 works for you? By following this 12 days of Christmas action plan.

Day 1: Update your CV If you’ve not been able to secure an interview, it could be down to your CV. Make sure you rewrite and tailor it to each job application. Always think about what the recruiter wants to find out - and give it to them early. Most recruiters scan CVs, spending less than 15 seconds on your first page. Get to the good stuff early.

Day 2: Plan your assault Run your job search like a military campaign. Rather than simply firing off application after application, compare what you want to do with what you are qualified to do. Other career options may open up for you.

Day 3: Social networking If you haven’t begun looking for jobs on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook, you are missing out. Advertising jobs is costly to companies, so many recruit through social media. Joining the big three above also leads us into…

Day 4: Make contacts Chatting to recruiters informally and keeping up to date with their companies is a great way to find out about jobs before anyone else. Get on Twitter or LinkedIn and connect with them. Be useful, link to interesting news and ask questions. Make phone calls and arrange to meet for coffee. What’s the worst that could happen?

Day 5: Clean up your act Every recruiter will Google your name, so make sure you keep those dodgy Facebook pictures private. Look through your online history - you’ll be surprised how much you want to hide. Then, tomorrow…

Day 6: Brand yourself Why not have your own site showcasing your capabilities? You should tailor your project to your job interests, so a wannabe web designer should showcase beautiful and functional websites. A great example is Celine Cavaillero, who wanted to work in fashion.

Day 7: Research a lead You have found a job you like, tweeted the recruiter and are looking to take the next step. Make sure you do your research thoroughly. Look through the company’s media centre and see what it has been up to in the press. Read articles about the sector it operates in. Be critical. Think about what you would do to improve the business.

Day 8: Be resilient It’s easy to be downhearted over Christmas if your job search isn’t going well. Don’t take rejection personally and remember that a recruiter’s needs change, so that no could become a yes.

Day 9: Update your wardrobe Sometimes you need a treat. Make sure you’re ready for a potential interview by dressing smart and feeling good. 

Day 10: Broaden your horizons You are probably already looking for jobs across the UK, but have you considered working abroad? Europe and the US are always popular options, but with industry booming in the Middle East, China and India, why not be adventurous?

Day 11: Set your 2012 goals Make your New Year career resolutions early. Don’t forget to make social, personal and money goals too, and review them monthly.

Day 12: Relax You are now prepared for the January job hunt. It’s Christmas.