Job Hunting Advice That Gets The Job Done - The Big 3 Tips

Job hunting is a lot like dating. Get yourself to the party. Engage in conversation. Chit-chat. Friendliness can open doors that you never imagined even if the initial chit-chat seems pointless.

This year is ending on a grim note. Over 1.2 million Americans are unemployed. Many are so disillusioned that they have stopped trying to look for work after months of trying very hard. With the sagging economy and a national unemployment rate hovering at about 10%, these "discouraged workers" can hardly be blamed for feeling deflated.

This job hunting advice therefore is going to seem counter-intuitive. It is a mistake to feel deflated at a time when a lighting bolt of opportunity is about to strike. Now is the time to heed the clarion call to action. Can't hear it yet? Neither can most people. Advantage: YOU!

Here are the Big 3 Tips to start on a revitalized job hunt that will get the job done- by getting a job.

Holiday Opportunity. The common error made at year end is assuming, quite mistakenly, that it is time to take a break and stop looking for work until the new year begins. Wrong. The quiet holiday season offers rare changes to stand out from the competition in the field. "When other people let their game down, it's time for you to step up your game," says John Challenger, CEO of a Chicago placement firm.

Job seekers presume that hiring firms don't want to be dealing with hiring during the holiday season. False. Because business is frequently winding down, employers have more time to focus on hiring. The more relaxed environment can offer more time to build new rapport with job candidates. It can be a two-way street.

Challenger likes the 'dating approach to job hunting' particularly at year end. He advises that it is an opportune time to go out and meet people you could be working with. Attend parties. Get involved in conversations. Low pressure networking chances are more available than ever during the holidays; much harder to find after the holiday season.

Get in While Planning is Underway. Job-hunting during the holidays also puts candidates in front of managers at precisely the time when they're planning for the year ahead, as budgets reset and hiring begins anew.

"Late November and December are good times to look," Challenger says, "because, while a lot of hiring gets consummated in the new year, a lot of the pre-work gets done at the end of year."

Align Yourself. Nothing new here: Find the unfulfilled need of the prospective employer and fill it. That need should be closely aligned with your interests and abilities. You are looking for a 'natural fit.'

Play to your strengths. Become extra active when your competition is taking a break. Timing is everything. It could be the edge that your job hunt needs to get the job-your job- done. Use the Big 3 tips of this job hunting advice to your advantage.