By Jeff Altman, Big Game Hunter
The holidays are prime time for socializing. Holiday parties, social gatherings, and business meetings are great opportunities to reunite with old friends and make new ones.
Often, people are reluctant to contact old friends and colleagues, fearing that their contact will be ignored or rejected. However, a simple email with the subject line “It feels like 100 years ago when we last spoke,” acknowledges the truth of the passage of time and provides a simple way to start reconnecting.
Your message could go something like this: “It feels like it’s been 100 years since we last spoke. With you on my mind, I thought I’d send you my wishes for a Merry Christmas, a Happy Hanukkah, and a Happy New Year. So, let’s talk after the holidays and set up a time to talk, preferably in person.” Pretty simple, isn’t it?
You can also send e-cards to old colleagues and business contacts asking about their lives (including wives/husbands/partners and children), opening the door to future conversations about careers and job opportunities.
Additionally, holiday gatherings tend to put employees and executives in a good mood and willing to remember you in a good way. But if holiday parties aren’t your thing, send Christmas cards to people you know in your industry. Wait until after the New Year to call old business contacts and ask about any job openings they may know of or have.
Never push your agenda to influential contacts by sending social requests disguised as holiday greetings. Don’t expect quick responses – Holiday communication is typically a slow time, so don’t expect immediate results. Instead, give yourself time to reach out to others and let the seasons pass naturally. Remember, networking during the holidays is a time to reconnect, not to push hard for results. Enjoy your vacation as much as possible.
During the holidays, people are often busy completing professional tasks related to the calendar year while making space for family and friends and celebrating the actual holiday season. Unfortunately, this is usually not an ideal time to meet potential mentors or new people unless there is an introduction.
Try to understand how career patterns change during the holidays and adjust your networking strategy accordingly. Once you accept these patterns instead of resisting them, you’ll be better able to take advantage of any vacation to become a networking all-star and, most importantly, enjoy the fun and joy of networking!
Also, keep in mind that many people give notice before the holidays and then use the holiday time to get through the season. These resignations create vacancies, hiring managers may be stressed about heading into the new year, and may provide you with an opportunity to network with those who want to hire additional personnel right after the new year. Additionally, they may prefer to have informal conversations with potential employees in anticipation of a new year and a new budget.
Many fiscal year companies finish their budget cycles a month early and are looking to add staff. Using the holidays to give yourself a chance to be “first and foremost” without being pushy can help you adjust quickly to the new year.
Don’t neglect your family and friends in conversations and social interactions. Many people I know found new jobs through discussions around the Christmas tree or a glass of New Year’s Eve champagne. Everyone was friendly and then, a week later, they got a call asking if they were interested in a role… Also, casually mentioning to family and friends that you’re looking for a new job is a great way to network in an unobtrusive way, you never know who you might be introduced to!
For salespeople, the holidays are often the easiest time to get together with senior executives with whom they have done business and listen to them talk about New Year’s resolutions.
Whether it’s a holiday party or a company-sponsored event, use the holidays to expand your network. There are often some social events you can attend during the holidays, and the interactions you have at these events may lead to new clients.
In addition to office-sponsored holiday parties, you can also attend alumni gatherings to meet people at your target company. In addition to formal social events, you can also attend non-traditional social occasions such as fundraisers and charity events. If you attend such an event, you must be prepared for the unexpected. For example, at a fundraiser, my wife and I sat next to the personal attorney of a former U.S. president. You never know who you might meet and what the results of the meeting will be.
Connecting and networking is a lifelong activity. During the holidays, however, it’s easier to make it casual and fun. Always be more interested in the other person than in selling yourself or promoting your own agenda. There is no voice sweeter to a man than his own. The more they talk and the more carefully you listen, the more they believe you’re engaged and the more they like you.
Happy Hanukkah. Merry Christmas. Happy New Year.
Ⓒ Big Game Hunter, Inc., Asheville, NC 2021, 2024
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About Big Game Hunter Jeff Altman
People hire “Big Game Hunter” Jeff Altman to provide no-nonsense job coaching and career advice around the world because he excels at job hunting
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