亲爱的安妮：我跟朋友打了个赌，您能帮帮我们吗？我的一位朋友失业已经有很长一段时间，现在，他计划在十二月份暂停求职。因为他认为在这个月，招聘经理们肯定也要休息，或者会因为安排节日而分心。因此，在1月1日之前，公司肯定不会招聘。但根据我自己担任经理的经验，我认为他的想法不太对，如果在假日期间停止求职，肯定会错过许多不错的机会。他不愿意参加大型假日聚会，这不利于人际交往。而我怀疑他之所以如此，应该是失业让他感到尴尬。如果您也认同我的观点，他就会继续求职。您有什么看法？—— 一位忧虑的朋友

    亲爱的C.F.：你的朋友确实想错了，但有这种想法的人不在少数。明尼阿波利斯猎头公司e-Executives负责人哈利·尤索尔称：“求职者普遍都认为节假日是‘一年中的糟糕时节’。”他还认为，即便是在圣诞节与新年之间平静的一周，也有人找到了新工作，这种情况并不罕见。

    其他猎头也同意这种观点：在线求职网络ExecuNet最近对招聘人员进行的一次调查显示，69%的招聘人员在十二月份安排接待的应征人员数量与其他月份持平，甚至更多。

    在接下来几周暂停求职，可能会适得其反，原因如下。首先，尤索尔认为：“招聘经理们承受着很大压力，必须为新年做好准备”，而这意味着他们必须在新一年开始之前，填满所有空缺职位。此外，许多雇主都会突击花钱，有一部分预算必须在12月31日之前花完。或者为了纳税目的，他们需要在年底之前增补职员。所以，等到一月份就为时过晚。

    求职网站Job-Hunt.org的负责人苏珊·乔伊斯说：“十二月份是全年求职最容易的月份，而接下来的一月份则是求职最困难、竞争最激烈的月份。”为了给假期求职提供帮助，乔伊斯与品牌化专家梅格·朱塞佩编辑了一本名为《新年新工作！假期求职的101条专家建议》（New Year, New Job! 101 Top Tips from the Job-Hunt Experts for Your Holiday Job Search）的电子书，总结了25位招聘人员和职业导师给出的建议。从感恩节午夜至下周午夜，通过所有亚马逊Kindle应用均可免费获得这本书（之后售价为99美分）。

    笔者摘选了其中几条建议，或许能对你朋友有帮助：

    1. 在节日假期期间，构建自己的在线网络。在这个时节，与老朋友和熟人叙旧是很自然的事情，所以，应该在商务社交网站LinkedIn和Facebook上主动联系他们，了解他们这些年的动向。当然，还要跟任何可能认识的招聘人员保持联络。

    2. 参加志愿者活动。节日期间，许多非盈利机构都需要额外协助，适时伸出援手可以建立新的人际关系，而这可能给求职带来意想不到的好处。职业导师南·S·拉塞尔表示，参与志愿者活动还有一点同样重要，“做一件有意义的事，感觉很棒。它能增强一个人的自信，同时会提醒人们，什么才是正常的生活状态。”

    3. 向面试过的公司邮寄贺卡。为了提醒招聘经理，你仍然有兴趣去他们公司工作，高管培训师卡米尔·罗伯茨建议，寄一张贺卡或者一份小礼物，比如一小盒巧克力等，并附上一张便条。她说：“问一下，除了你之前申请的工作之外，是否有更适合你的任何职位空缺。”

    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.