The holidays are one of the best times of the year for networking.  So, if you’re actively looking for a job, even if you’re thinking about it, December is a great month to get out and meet people. This month, there are even more places to do this.

Begin with your office holiday party. It’s tempting to think we know the people that we work with I but if you work in a large corporation, I’ve worked in a couple, you probably don’t. There are a lot of people you are friendly with, as in your frequently exchange emails or phone calls, who you’ve never met face-to-face.  Your office party is the perfect opportunity to put faces to names and, maybe, get to know your boss a little better too.

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One thing that can change your career, even your life is to always be open to new ideas. But, that’s not exactly what this post is about. If you’re a Grey’s Anatomy fan you already know this secret, if you’re not here goes.

A couple of years ago, I was watching Grey’s Anatomy, the episode was the climax of a protracted storyline about a gifted surgeon with a massive brain tumor. Despite many other surgeons saying the tumor was inoperable, chief neurosurgeon Amelia Shepard, not to be confused with her brother McDreamy, has determined that she can take on the job.

Right before the surgery, Shepard’s intern finds her standing in the Superhero pose. Head high. Chest out. Hands at her waist. Just like Superman. Amelia explains that standing like that gives her confidence and the scene ends with the two of them standing side-by-side looking like they can take on the world.

Well, that’s fine for TV but does it work in the real world?

The answer is yes.

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It takes a lot of work to secure a job interview. Creating a list of target employers. Preparing a results-driven resume or having one written for you. Spending hours networking online and in person.  The list goes on.

When you do get that coveted interview with your target employer be sure to make a good first impression. There are many articles on what to do, here are a few interview don’ts.

Don’t dodge the salary question. Most likely your first interview with a recruiter will include the dreaded “salary” question. While this is a bit uncomfortable on both sides, recruiters need to ask. They need to see if you are in the hiring managers salary range. You can make the process less anxiety provoking by planning in advance.

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Successful business people know it’s important to know your audience.

That’s why career professionals advise their clients to research the company and those who you’ll be meeting before every job interview.

As a former recruiter, I know that most people don’t bother.

Questions about what candidates know about the company were often met with vague generalities or an outright “nothing really.”

The truth is knowing your audience can make the difference between a probable no and a resounding yet.

My favorite example is from the movie Hidden Figures about 3 African-American women who served vital roles NASA during the early years of the space program.

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Differentiating yourself from the pack is one of the keys to a successful job search. A strong resume and robust LinkedIn profile will contribute to that. Having great interview skills will set you apart as well.

A search on Google will turn up a ton of articles on these job-search topics. Many appear on my blog.

One thing that’s not written about as often is the importance of sending a thank you note after a job interview. Sending a thank you note is one of those things that everyone knows they should do, yet very few people actually do it.

Since so few people do send thank you notes, sending one will make you stand out. A well-written note can propel you along the interview process. It may become a deciding factor when it’s the end of the interview process and the choice is between you and one or two other candidates.

While sending even a basic thank you note, for example “thank you for your time, blah, blah, blah,” will help, making a strong case for why you are the best candidate for the job is a much better way to turn the tables in your favor.

One of the reasons people don’t send thank you notes is because they don’t know what to say.

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This weekend marks the unofficial end to summer. Despite the endless rain and 90-degree days, I’m sorry to see it go. I’m guessing you are too.

I plan to enjoy summer’s last, long holiday weekend. You should too.

But, if you’re looking for a new job, squeeze in a little work as well.

Here are 5 easy things you can do that will help you get a jump on your fall job search. Do 1 or do them all. They are in no particular order.

#1 Target Employers

Create a list of 10 target employers. Places where you’ve always wanted to work. Maybe they’re your company’s competitor or what they do inspire you or they exude the culture you seek.  Set up Google alerts on them. Schedule a time each week to visit their websites for career and business information.

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If you’re looking for a new job, there’s some good news on the horizon. Most employers plan to take on new staff before the end of 2018.

Now through December 63% of employers, up from 60% last year, plan to hire full-time permanent employees according to CareerBuilder’s Midyear Job Forecast.

Even better, a substantial number of surveyed employers say they expect to offer higher salaries and perks including signing bonuses, extra PTO, free lunches, and remote work options to attract and retain talent.

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Sometimes you’ll have a lot of time to decide, sometimes not.

Whatever the circumstances, it will be easier to make that decision if you have some sort of decision-making process in place.

Here are 3 options you can try if you receive more than one job offer.

Pros and Cons

This is a long standing method that needs very little explanation. You make two columns listing the Pros on one side and the Cons on the other. If you’re deciding between two jobs you’ll have to do an assessment of each and then evaluate which one is more appealing.

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Looking for a job isn’t easy. Getting an interview is tough. Securing an offer is even tougher.

If the whole process was easy, unhappy workers wouldn’t hesitate to make a change. People wouldn’t be as devastated when they lost a job.

Of course, one of the most difficult thing for jobseekers is trying to figure out what hiring managers think. What are they looking for? What questions will they be asked during an interview? Is talking badly about a boss or former boss really that bad?

The list of questions goes on.

Well, today, we’re going to provide some insights gleaned from a survey of hiring managers conducted by Simply Hired**.

What You Can Expect

While a robust, optimized LinkedIn profile is essential to being found on LinkedIn, most (71%) of hiring managers don’t check candidate’s profiles. Of course, that means almost 30% do.

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After a tough winter, summer is finally here. Vacationers back up traffic for miles and sometimes there’s even a line at the beach. Time to sit back, enjoy the warm weather, and chill.

Not so fast.

Tempting as it may be, if you’re looking for a new job, this is not the time to slack off.

Even a decade ago, most people thought summer was not a good time to look for a job. In some respects, they were right. But, things are much different today. While recruiters and hiring managers may be taking long weekends, even week-long vacations, in our 24/7 world of work no one is ever really out of the office.

That means it’s not the time to kick back and wait for September. Here are four ways to keep your job search moving this summer.

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