note: This blog post originally appeared in 2021 and while many things have changed in 2 years, this advice and resource links remains timely and relevant.

December is a unique month for job seekers. It’s a season for vacations and time away from the office. It’s also the final month in the fiscal year for many businesses. What does this mean for you? Many professionals may be away from email and work communication tools for extended periods, so expect delayed responses. Having a slower work pace can also mean that people have the time and added motivation of holiday spirit to reply to your messages and schedule a call.

In December, many businesses and teams also have the incentive to complete their hiring process before the fiscal year ends. It’s the perfect season to put yourself in the right place at the right time, and prepare for quick search processes and decisions. Wouldn’t that be great?

Here are five tips for boosting your job or internship search by connecting during the holiday season.

1. Send seasonal messages and thank you notes. December and January are the perfect season for reconnecting and reaching out. These can be chats or emails, or you could send digital (or paper!) greeting cards for a special touch. Here is an article with multiple examples of seasonal messages you could send. Here is another article if you want more examples.
2. Say yes to invitations and attend holiday events with a mission to meet new people. Developing the ability to meet others and strike up a conversation in an online environment is becoming an essential modern skill, and now is a friendly season for practice. When you meet someone you would like to stay in touch with, connect on social media appropriate for that setting within 24 hours.
3. In your conversations and informational interviews, don’t just stick to business. Be interested in others by asking about holiday plans, family, or their reflections on the year. This article provides 48 small-talk questions on a wide range of topics you can use for inspiration.
4. Set up friendly and informative auto-replies for the holiday season. Mention your job/internship search, your interests, and how to be in touch if readers know of any way to support you. The Duke Daily has published an article with some nice examples. The article is focused on the remote work during early COVID times, but remains relevant.
5. Take a moment to write a reflective post on LinkedIn or another platform. This approach creates an opportunity for people you’ve lost touch with to discover that you’re searching, with a clear sense of what priorities you have in mind. Invite people to message you if they have ideas, advice, or leads to share. If you would like to see samples of how others have shared what they have been doing, what matters to them, and where they are going, here are a few examples.