5 Reasons to Focus on Career Development During Winter Break:

Eagles, we want to wish you the best of luck on your final examinations this fall semester and a safe and happy winter break. We know that classes can be demanding, and you want to spend your break relaxing and spending quality time with family and friends. We encourage you to think about your career development this winter while you have some extra time to focus on your future career goals.

Remember companies do not always have a winter break like universities do; hiring does not stop during the holiday season. Many key roles for companies will open near the end of the year and you would want to continue your momentum by following these simple tips and tricks to stay competitive and focused during this time.

1. Hiring Processes can be Long: Over the last four years, the time to hire has risen, and companies are extending the hiring process to include more interviews. The sooner you begin your job search, the easier time you will have to obtain that internship or full-time position.
2. The Break is an Ideal Time to Make Connections: The winter break is a wonderful time to reconnect with old teachers, mentors, and family friends who may have connections to help you secure your next opportunity. You can use this time to schedule informational interviews with new connections (either in-person or virtually) and learn more about your industry of interest. You can get the ball rolling on more networking conversations in the new year.
3. There is Less Competition: Over the break many of your peers will be pausing their search, so there will be less competition. People are busy with vacations or holiday events and will not be focusing on their career development. To stay ahead of the competition, we encourage you to continue your search during your time off from school.
4. Companies are Still Hiring: Again, many companies do not pause their hiring over the holidays, so this is a great time to continue to search for open positions. Some companies need to meet hiring goals before the end of the year, which could open doors for you in your search.
5. There is Potential for Other Perks: If you are about to graduate and still looking for a full-time position, this is the perfect time to complete your job search. Many companies looking to fill positions before the holiday break will give new employees the same benefits (time off, holiday pay, etc.) as current employees. Some companies have a new budget each year, which can help you increase your salary or benefits if you receive an offer before the new year.

It is never too early or late to focus on your career development. Remember that the Career Services staff at your ERAU campus is still available during the winter break to assist you with your career development needs. We are here to support you with your internship or full-time job search.

For more information on how to focus on your career development over the winter break, please read this article from Forbes.com with more great information on this topic: https://www.forbes.com/sites/carolinecastrillon/2023/11/12/5-reasons-to-continue-your-job-search-over-the-holidays/?sh=5513a15341df