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Connecting with employers during the holiday communications blackout
Editorial by Christian Saint Cyr
National Director / Canadian Job Development Network
When a spacecraft returns to the earth, entering the planet’s atmosphere, a communications blackout occurs which makes communication with Mission Control impossible. The period from December 23rd to January 2nd, has a similar effect for job seekers and job developers alike.
During the last two weeks of December, many employers are closed, on vacation and certainly they aren’t posting jobs or interviewing candidates. Sorry, in most cases, employers aren’t interviewing candidates or placing job ads. ‘In most cases’ being the operative phrase.
One of the difficult traits to evaluate in employer communication is ‘intentionality’. Employers often say they are eager to hire or they will take anyone and then they draw out the hiring process and reject every candidate you suggest.
Like all of us, employers often don’t say what they mean or even think they’re saying what they think they mean. If you get my meaning.
And yet, an employer who places an advertisement in the final weeks of December is clearly demonstrating they intend to hire – and they’re eager to hire. They are demonstrating 'intentionality'.
To place an job posting in the final weeks of December demonstrates an employer is not only at work, but they are feeling the pressure to get a position or multiple positions staffed.
Just like employers are not always present during the last two weeks of December, they also recognize that far fewer candidates are looking at job postings. Placing an advertisement now demonstrates they would prefer to act quickly with fewer candidates rather than waiting a few weeks and getting a bigger pool of applicants.
During this final week of December, it would be beneficial to review job postings on Indeed, the Job Bank, on LinkedIn and with key local employers to see which job postings have been posted within the past 24 hours. This will indicate which employers are hiring right now and provide an opportunity to follow-up.
This is also an excellent opportunity to visit employers in-person. Unless they are in retail or hospitality, this will typically be a slower week and they may be more open to conversation. I would also recommend bringing by a treat or some sort of ‘New Year’s Eve’ present to break the ice.
You should also use this week to follow employers on social media. Whether LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or X, employers will typically use the downtime this week to review posts and communication. You might have a better chance of connecting with potential employers this week than at any other time of the year.
You may also want to use this week to set goals and priorities for the new year. The slower pace of this week is a good time to be reflective and set actionable goals for the new year.
In keeping with our learning module: ‘Adopting a Scientific Approach to Job Development’, try to set goals in areas that help you achieve placement or employment goals. If your goal is to see 20 students or employees placed in January, set a goal for how many employer touch-points you’ll create, breaking it down to contacting ‘x’ number of new employers while following up with ‘x’ number of employers where you already have an existing relationship.
As a new member of the Canadian Job Developers Network, we hope this weekly newsletter and our Monday morning ‘Strategy Sessions’ can be of support to you in goal setting; building enthusiasm for job development; rallying your clients or students; and building best practices in your employer communication.
We’ll see you Monday morning on January 2nd at 8:30am Pacific or 11:30am Eastern! Click here to join the session
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