What's the Best Holiday Gift?
A Deeper and Broader Network

In most professional atmospheres, across every sector, things slow down for the holidays. People simply have less time to work because they are busy socializing with friends, colleagues, and family. So, it goes to follow that job seeking should slow down as well, right? Wrong!

What is networking if not socializing with friends, colleagues, and family? And, what better time to network than with people who are joyous in the holiday season and a bit less stressed at work? Follow my logic here? Good. Now, let's make that holiday networking work.

Before we talk about schmoozing strategy and some useful networking tactics, let's talk about the elephant in the room. You are looking for a job. This potentially means that: you might want something from the person with whom you are networking and feel awkward about asking; or you might feel shy or exposed about the fact that you or currently unemployed; or perhaps you are worried about seeming needy with someone with whom you haven't connected in some time. I say pish-posh to this. Everyone has walked in your shoes before, whether it is learning to ask for help, discussing a difficult situation, or reconnecting after too much time. Get over it, get out of your own way, and get going.