????親愛的安妮：我跟朋友打了個賭，您能幫幫我們嗎？我的一位朋友失業已經有很長一段時間，現在，他計劃在十二月份暫停求職。因為他認為在這個月，招聘經理們肯定也要休息，或者會因為安排節日而分心。因此，在1月1日之前，公司肯定不會招聘。但根據我自己擔任經理的經驗，我認為他的想法不太對，如果在假日期間停止求職，肯定會錯過許多不錯的機會。他不愿意參加大型假日聚會，這不利于人際交往。而我懷疑他之所以如此，應該是失業讓他感到尷尬。如果您也認同我的觀點，他就會繼續求職。您有什么看法？—— 一位憂慮的朋友

????親愛的C.F.：你的朋友確實想錯了，但有這種想法的人不在少數。明尼阿波利斯獵頭公司e-Executives負責人哈利·尤索爾稱：“求職者普遍都認為節假日是‘一年中的糟糕時節’?！彼€認為，即便是在圣誕節與新年之間平靜的一周，也有人找到了新工作，這種情況并不罕見。

????其他獵頭也同意這種觀點：在線求職網絡ExecuNet最近對招聘人員進行的一次調查顯示，69%的招聘人員在十二月份安排接待的應征人員數量與其他月份持平，甚至更多。

????在接下來幾周暫停求職，可能會適得其反，原因如下。首先，尤索爾認為：“招聘經理們承受著很大壓力，必須為新年做好準備”，而這意味著他們必須在新一年開始之前，填滿所有空缺職位。此外，許多雇主都會突擊花錢，有一部分預算必須在12月31日之前花完?；蛘邽榱思{稅目的，他們需要在年底之前增補職員。所以，等到一月份就為時過晚。

????求職網站Job-Hunt.org的負責人蘇珊·喬伊斯說：“十二月份是全年求職最容易的月份，而接下來的一月份則是求職最困難、競爭最激烈的月份?！睘榱私o假期求職提供幫助，喬伊斯與品牌化專家梅格·朱塞佩編輯了一本名為《新年新工作！假期求職的101條專家建議》（New Year, New Job! 101 Top Tips from the Job-Hunt Experts for Your Holiday Job Search）的電子書，總結了25位招聘人員和職業導師給出的建議。從感恩節午夜至下周午夜，通過所有亞馬遜Kindle應用均可免費獲得這本書（之后售價為99美分）。

????筆者摘選了其中幾條建議，或許能對你朋友有幫助：

????1. 在節日假期期間，構建自己的在線網絡。在這個時節，與老朋友和熟人敘舊是很自然的事情，所以，應該在商務社交網站LinkedIn和Facebook上主動聯系他們，了解他們這些年的動向。當然，還要跟任何可能認識的招聘人員保持聯絡。

????2. 參加志愿者活動。節日期間，許多非盈利機構都需要額外協助，適時伸出援手可以建立新的人際關系，而這可能給求職帶來意想不到的好處。職業導師南·S·拉塞爾表示，參與志愿者活動還有一點同樣重要，“做一件有意義的事，感覺很棒。它能增強一個人的自信，同時會提醒人們，什么才是正常的生活狀態?！?/p>

????3. 向面試過的公司郵寄賀卡。為了提醒招聘經理，你仍然有興趣去他們公司工作，高管培訓師卡米爾·羅伯茨建議，寄一張賀卡或者一份小禮物，比如一小盒巧克力等，并附上一張便條。她說：“問一下，除了你之前申請的工作之外，是否有更適合你的任何職位空缺?！?/p>

????Dear Annie:?Can you settle a bet? A friend of mine who has been out of work for quite a while is planning to take the month of December off from job hunting because he says hiring managers are taking time off, or are distracted by their own holiday preparations, and are not hiring until after January 1. Based on my own experience as a manager, I think he's mistaken and will miss out on some great opportunities if he stops looking during the holidays. I suspect that part of his reluctance to go to big holiday parties -- which are terrific for networking -- is that he's embarrassed about being unemployed. He has agreed to keep looking if you say he should, so what do you think? —Concerned Friend

????Dear C.F.:?Your friend is mistaken, but he's certainly not the only one. "This 'bad time of year' myth has become conventional wisdom among job seekers," notes Harry Urschel, head of Minneapolis recruiting firm e-Executives, who adds that it isn't at all unusual for people to find new jobs even in that quiet week between Christmas and New Year's.

????Other headhunters agree: A new survey of recruiters by online executive career network ExecuNet says that 69% report place as many, or even more, candidates in December as in any other month.

????Calling off a job search during the next few weeks is counterproductive for several reasons. First, Urschel says, "there is a great deal of pressure on managers to be prepared" for the New Year, which means having people in place before it starts. Moreover, many employers have "use it or lose it" budgets that bosses have to spend before December 31, or they need to staff up before the year ends for tax purposes, so January may be too late.

????"December is the easiest job market of the whole year -- followed by January, which is the toughest and most competitive," says Susan Joyce, who runs career site Job-Hunt.org. To help out during the holidays, Joyce and branding expert Meg Giuseppi compiled an e-book of tips from 25 recruiters and career coaches, called?New Year, New Job! 101 Top Tips from the Job-Hunt Experts for Your Holiday Job Search. It will be available for free on all Amazon Kindle apps from midnight on Thanksgiving Day until midnight next Monday (99 cents thereafter).

????A few of those tips your friend might useful:

????1. Build your online network over the holidays.?Reconnecting with old friends and acquaintances is natural at this time of year, so reach out to them on LinkedIn (LNKD) and Facebook (FB), and get caught up with what they're doing these days. Touch base with any recruiters you may know, as well.

????2. Volunteer.?Many nonprofits need extra help during the holidays, and lending a hand can lead to new relationships that will help your job search. Just as important, notes career coach Nan S. Russell, "It feels great to make a difference. It ignites your self-esteem and reminds you of what's going right in your life."

????3. Send cards to companies where you've interviewed.?To remind hiring managers that you're still interested in working with them, executive coach Camille Roberts suggests sending a holiday card, and maybe even a small gift like a little box of chocolates, along with a note. "Ask if there are any openings where you might be a better fit" than the job you previously applied for, she says.