Finding the time in your busy schedule to accomplish the things that are important to you should not make you feel guilty. You are likely being pulled in many directions during this holiday season but that should not mean you give up on your job search and finding an opportunity that is right for you. The holidays are a time when you give back and not when you give up no matter how mad everyone is dashing around you. Look at your job search as your own Black Friday and prepare, strategize and by all means get in line early to beat out your competition.

Sometimes it’s easier to stay focused when the rest of the world is distracted. This could be a very important strategy over the holiday when you should be taking the time to figure out your next career move just like you would try to figure out which store has the best deals. You are a commodity and you need to package and market your skills in much the same way you would if you were the launch of a new product. You have something others don’t have and you need to make sure the company you are interested in working for knows that as well.

Having the ability to prepare yourself during the down time of the holidays, helps you move through the crowd a lot faster when the time comes for you to hit the job market hard. You need to be mentally as well as physically prepared for your next move. If that means you need to psych yourself into being in the right frame of mind or it means you need help making sure you have an appropriate wardrobe, staying prepared in the midst of your Black Friday will help you get what you want.

When it comes to your job search you need to be first in line and make sure you stay top of mind with the hiring manager during the interview process. Following up is key but making a strong and lasting impression out of the gate will guarantee that you are not lost in the crowd no matter how many people show up to interview. You have what it takes to succeed you just need to stick with the commitment to the cause in order to cross the finish line.

As you prepare to consume large amounts of turkey and stuffing this holiday season, be thankful for the fact that you have the ability to get any job you want with a little effort and endurance. You are your best asset so make sure you let the rest of the world know that as well. Pushing your way through your Black Friday job search will be easier once you stay prepared and go after what you are looking for no matter what the obstacles get in the way. Remember, getting in your job line early shows your dedication and might get you a front row seat in the interview process and ensures you can beat out your competition.

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When you think about the past year what are you most grateful for? Are you grateful for the job you have or the one you expect will come? Are you still wishing for something big and wonderful to come into your life? Opportunities abound and the future lay bright and sunny but do you ever stop and give thanks to what you have today?

When Thanksgiving represents what you give thanks for in your life here are some things you might consider when you give yourself time to reflect on your job and your career in a meaningful way:

1. Thank you for the gift of work;
2. Thank you for the ability to provide for myself and my family;
3. Thank you for the new opportunities ever present in my life;
4. Thank you for the abundance I have in my life;
5. Thank you for my professional relationships of friends and co-workers;
6. Thank you for my many mentors I have had in my career;
7. Thank you for the ability to learn new things in new ways;
8. Thank you for the chance to use my skills in productive ways;
9. Thank you for my ability to help others in their career;
10. Thank you for all of the many chances I have to grow, learn and become who I am really meant to be in my career.

Giving thanks for all of what you have now allows you to make room for all of the new opportunities that are just waiting for you.

Original Post 11/2012

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You may think that you should be relaxing and not worrying about your job search at a time when Thanksgiving and Christmas are right around the corner. It’s not that you are lazy and think you should take some time off but knowing how to use the down time associated with the holidays is a smart strategy if you need to gear up your career search. Maybe you’ve been putting off that resume rewrite. Maybe you are just not feeling like networking and applying for those jobs you are hearing about. It’s okay to take a break, but knowing how to be productive when you are coasting is smart for you and for your career.

When you think you just don’t have another job interview in you, follow these useful tips to harvest not only what’s on the dinner table but also what you put into your job search:

1. Breathe and Focus: As much as you believe pulling your resume together is important, knowing what you want in the first place is the key to starting a successful job search. The good news here is it takes little manual effort to achieve this goal. Taking time to relax, meditate, focus and listen are the steps you need to take in order to kick your job search into high gear. Having some much needed alone time even if you have to schedule it will help you to unwind and really listen to what is making you happy or unhappy with your current job search. Paying attention to your instincts about the direction you need to take even if that means you are feeling you need to go back to school or get some additional training are all invaluable pieces of information that will help you move ahead. Taking time for yourself now before the holidays hit will help you stay grounded and feel like you are accomplishing a great deal towards your future career goals.
2. Fantasy Game: Playing a little mental game with yourself and visioning your ideal career environment takes no time and is a fantasy game that will help you materialize and harness what is truly missing from your career now. Picturing your career the way you always wanted from what you are doing, to whom you are doing it with, to where you are working and what your office or life looks like will help you visually put the pieces of your career together for you in a fun and imaginative way. Playing the fantasy game will help you not only feel what you want but will actually deliver it in buckets just the way you want as long as you keep your focus.
3. Talk To Yourself: Some people may think you are losing your mind but mentally interviewing yourself and asking a series of questions about what you want from your life, your career and your work are important steps to putting the pieces together of how you need to move forward with your job search when the time is right. Asking yourself, “What do you like about what you are doing now?” to “What would you like to change in your current work situation?” will lead you to answers that will help you move your career in the right direction. Listening carefully to the feelings and responses that bubble up will help motivate you towards seeking a career that’s right for you even if you are a little surprised by the answers you hear!

Using the down time as you gear up for the holiday season is a good way to stay focused, figure out what you want and start to plan for your future without stressing yourself out and making you feel inadequate if you have not sent out multiple resumes. Harvest your alone time to your advantage and watch the fruits of your labor unfold to the career you’ve always dreamed of.

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Endurance, focus, practice, determination and perseverance may be what it takes to win the New York Marathon, but some might say these same attributes are what it takes to make it to your job finish line. Whether you are in transition, a recent grad or someone who is happy where they are in life, harnessing what it takes to win the job race takes time and yes a little more than just dedication.

Being a winner in anything you undertake may feel good when the race is over but how many of you actually recall what it took to get there? You may have a natural instinct towards winning that comes easily to you or, like so many you have to work at it in order to move forward just a little. Whatever your inclination towards winning, no one can deny that with the right amount of effort you will master just about anything you set your mind towards no matter how long it takes.

Challenges, obstacles, adverse conditions are a part of any course you take when it comes to winning the job race. You have options like with anything in life. You can quit, go at your own pace or you can push through to you get to your goal. Whatever course of action you choose, the goal is the same: make it what you want and you will reach your goal. Not everyone takes on a race to win. Sometimes just being part of the process is winning enough. Take for example if you are in a job or career you really love. Your natural inclination may be to rest easy and enjoy the ride and put little or no effort into the thought that you should interview for another job opportunity. Wrong. Even when you think the race is won or you are not even sure you want to jump in to the race, that’s when you need to put even the smallest amount of effort into it in order to keep yourself prime and in good shape.

Interviewing for another job when you already have one and one that you like is the very BEST time to practice, get in shape and learn how you stack up against the competition even if you are not interested in jumping into the job race. It may seem counter-intuitive but you are at your very best when you are not trying so hard to win a job offer, another chance to interview or a higher salary when you are relaxed, focused and in a good mental and physical shape. Just like an athlete with a few wins under their belt, it does not mean you have to ease up on the effort you put into it, but you definitely come at the process of winning from a very different mind set if you are comfortable and confident in your own skin.

Winning means different things to different people. Just being part of the race is accomplishment enough for some while charging towards the finish line is all anyone else can see. Whether you are a joyful participant or a hungry athlete, learning how to manage your job race at your own pace will help you gain the courage and momentum you need no matter how hard you are driving towards the finish line.

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