Holiday season no time to apply for jobs? A total myth

Next week is Thanksgiving, when employed Americans take a few days off to roast turkey, watch football and get together with loved ones. But it's not only folks with jobs that will be putting their feet up: Many job seekers also see the start of the festive season as their cue to relax their efforts, put aside their resumes and take some time off from the hunt. After all, no employers hire this time of year, right?

Not according to a myth-busting report from jobs portal CareerCast, which says that not only is it possible to get a gig during the holidays but the period is actually an excellent time to approach employers.

"The common perception that hiring disappears during the holidays is a myth," examples Tony Lee, publisher of CareerCast. "By doubling your efforts over the holidays at a time when many other unemployed workers are focused on activities other than job hunting, you increase your odds of finding a new position." The report goes on to advise,

Most job seekers decide to abandon their job searches until after the new year to focus on friends and family. This means less competition and better odds of finding a job if you put forth a serious effort. With most of the competition for new jobs spending the holidays on the sidelines, determined job seekers have a mathematical advantage for uncovering interview opportunities.

And it's not just CareerCast who is pushing the holiday season as an under-rated time for job seekers. The Glassdoor blog also recently offered a post suggesting that flipping a seasonal gig into a full-time position is a frequently missed opportunity. The post offers several tips for those looking to pursue this approach:

-- Communicate your desire to stay. Sometimes, supervisors don't consider the possibility that a holiday worker may want to stay after the temporary gig is up, so make it clear that you're interested.

-- Be proactive. Don't just wait to see if your supervisor will ask you to stay; be on the lookout for job postings and apply for any open positions that may be a good fit for you.

-- Behave like a full-time employee.

-- Go the extra mile. "Volunteer for extra hours or tasks that no one else wants, such as inventory," says Erin Peterson, recruitment outsourcing practice leader with Aon Hewitt.

For more details on each piece of advice, check out the complete post.