4 Things You Should Do To Be Job-Ready Before The Holidays End
Your LinkedIn profile is on fleek, and so is your resume and cover letter.
However, you still cannot seem to find a job.
The unemployment rate is steadily decreasing, and supposedly the amount of jobs in America is increasing.
So where are the jobs?!
As an anxious job seeker, I'm sure it is very annoying to fill out application after application and not hear anything back, especially when you know you are damn well qualified.
Unfortunately, while you may be the perfect candidate, there are several reasons why you may not be getting called back:
- The position may be put on hold because of internal, business complications (i.e. the hiring manager may have new priorities that are more important)
- They are using a staffing agency to help fill candidates and the agency may not be moving as quickly as you may like
- The role that you applied for is a role that they are always hiring for (i.e. at my old job, we were always hiring student employees due to a high turnover, so we kept that job posted even when we weren't hiring)
Despite all of this, one of the most important reasons is that the company may not be in their hiring season. One thing that most people do not know is that December is one of the best times of the year to job search. Many companies begin their yearly, new hire training during this time, and also some companies realize that they have more money in their budget to create new positions or hire more employees. Naturally, because of those factors and more, more positions tend to get posted in December and more people are being hired.
Now before you lazily stop your job search efforts and wait for mid-December to roll around, please realize that the next few weeks are the most important if you are a job seeker.
Here are four major things that you need to take care of before the holidays end so that you are ready for your next big opportunity:
Research holiday networking events in your field.
With Christmas just around the corner, there will be many holiday parties and volunteer opportunities that you can attend. Do your research now and see what is going on in your community, and with your desired, future employers. Start RSVPing now to those events and get ready to network and meet new people.
Connect with old contacts to touch base, show gratitude, and even ask to use them as a reference.
I truly believe in the value of maintaining relationships with everyone. You never know what someone can do for you, or when you will need someone that you least expect. Touch base with your old contacts by sending them a holiday card or e-card. Even better, take time out to call them. I know this may seem really cheesy, but I actually schedule days to call and check on certain people. I don't have a fancy scheduling system, I just use my iPhone calendar and randomly schedule reminders to "call ____" or to "email ____".
Also during this time, it is important to reconnect with old employers and peers so that you can update your reference list. If you are in need of references, kindly tell them what your job goals are and ask them if they can be a reference. If you were a good employee or coworker, they will not have a problem with it.
[Related: Do These 4 Things On LinkedIn & You Will Have Recruiters Sliding In Your DMs]
Take advantage of family and friends visiting for the holidays by brushing up on interview skills.
Before any interview, it is always good to practice your elevator pitch and go over basic interview questions. It is better to practice interviewing skills with another person because you can get feedback. While your family and friends are in town for the holidays, slip them away for a little interview roleplay. Give them a list of questions, and ask them to interview you and give you constructive feedback at the end. Most of the time, the most honest people are our family members, and these are the type of people that you need advice from.
Do more research on what kind of career you want and the companies that you want to work for.
Since you are on the job hunt, it is obvious that you are anxiously seeking a new position. However, do not be too anxious and apply for literally any and everything that is posted. Doing so is not only a waste of time, but a waste of energy. Think about what you truly value, what your skills are, and what you are passionate about. Really think about what kind of career you want, what kind of company that you want to work for, and what exact position you are seeking. It is important that you do your fair share of research before joining a company so that you can personally benefit and grow.
Before you spend your holidays deal shopping and eating one and two plates of yummy holiday food, make sure you are also using your time wisely. By doing the aforementioned things this holiday season, you may find yourself coming into the new year with a new job!
What are some other things that you can do this holiday season that will benefit your job hunt? Let us know by commenting below.
Featured image by Shutterstock
- Top 11 Reasons to Job Search During the Holidays ›
- Is Job Hunting During the Holidays a Waste of Time? | HuffPost ›
- How to Use the Holiday Season to Job Search ›
- How to Leverage the Holidays for Successful Job Search - Job-Hunt ... ›
- 10 Tips To Job Hunt Successfully During The Holidays ›
- How to Job Search During the Holidays - The Muse ›
- Why You Should Job Hunt This Holiday Season | Psychology Today ›
- 7 tips for job hunting during the holidays - Idealist Careers ›
- 7 tips for job hunting during the holidays - The Business Journals ›
Brittani Hunter is a proud PVAMU alumni and the founder of The Mogul Millennial, a business and career platform for Black Millennials. Meet Brittani on Twitter and on the Gram at @BrittaniLHunter and @mogulmillennial.
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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I think we all can agree that social media really is a double-edged sword. What I mean by that is there is just as much bad that can come out of it as good. At the end of the day, it really is about 1) having your own mind, 2) finding balance when it comes to how much time you spend online, and 3) doing your own research instead of taking random people’s opinions as the gospel (i.e., facts).
Gee, I wish more folks did all of this when it comes to if a man needs to have a large penis to sexually satisfy a woman (he does not) and if a woman who has had multiple sex partners will ultimately end up with a vagina that is too large for smaller penises to please her (a lie).
Science totally has my back on debunking both of those things (more on that in a bit). Know what else does? A particular type of sex method that is becoming more popular by the day. One that just might convince you to, as they used to say back in the day, focus less on the “size of the wave” and ride out the “motion of the ocean” instead.
It’s called shallowing. Here’s what it’s all about.
What Is Shallowing?
GiphyIf there’s one thing that I wish folks would say more thoroughly when it comes to women and orgasms, it’s that when it comes to75 percent of women not being able to orgasm from only intercourse, the accurate statement is they struggle with achieving a vaginal orgasm without the assistance of some type of clitoral stimulation. Yeah, we’ve really got to remember that very few things in this life are a complete monolith — orgasms included (check out “U-Spot Orgasm, Fantasy Orgasm & 6 Other Orgasms You Should Try Tonight”).
In fact, it was while I was reading up on pairing — a word that is used for when clitoral stimulation transpires during penetration — that I decided to do some deep-diving into shallowing (because it was mentioned inone of the articles that I read).And what is it? Shallowing is when a penis, finger, tongue, or sex toy of some sort is used in order to ever so slightly penetrate the vaginal opening of a woman.
And why is shallowing not just a current sex trend but something that every woman on this planet should try? It’s because of what I’ve said, more than once, on this platform: it focuses on the most sensitive part of a woman’s vagina, which isthe first two inches of her vaginal opening.
When the emphasis is placed there, not only does it increase your chances of experiencing “the big O,” but it can also build up anticipation, which can intensify your orgasms too — yes, shallowing can also be seen as a form of edging.
Another thing that’s cool about shallowing is — and it really and truly can’t be said enough — something that makes vaginal and blended orgasms easier to achieve for some women really has little to do with the size of a man’s package or even his technique; it’s straight up anatomy. Yep, the closer that a woman’s clitoris is to her vaginal opening, the easier it is for a penis to stimulate both. So, science makes it possible for vaginal orgasms to be easier for some women than others.
At the same time, shallowing can make it possible for more women who want to see what a vaginal orgasm actually feels like (because it’s easier for the head of the penis to stimulate the opening of the vagina while the shaft can rub up against your clitoris; based on the position that you are in, of course — the missionary with some pillows propped under the lower part of your back is ideal for this).
Now that you see what shallowing actually is, do you get why I said that penis size doesn’t matter when it comes to doing it — and getting the kind of orgasms that you want? Contrary to popular belief, your vagina is only around four inches. In fact, some health experts say that it ranges between 2-4”. Anything larger, your body literally has to stretch out to accommodate; this includes penises and babies. So, if your vagina is “making room” for more than four inches, why in the world do you think you need a 10-inch man? Yeah…exactly. It really is time to get over the silliness. The average penis continues to be 5.5”. Makes sense when you take it all in (no pun intended).
Aight, so now that you know what shallowing is all about, let me try and hard sell you on why it’s a sex technique that you should try as soon as tonight (if you possibly can).
1. It takes the pressure off of you and your partner.
I’ve been working with couples for almost 20 years at this point. This means that the topic of sex comes up quite a bit. And if there’s one thing that continues to be an issue is inconsistent orgasms (check out “Why Do Orgasms So Often Seem Like A ‘Hit-Or-Miss’ Experience For Women?”).
Listen, no matter how many articles you read or sex positions you try, if you’re anxious, stressed out, or overthinking, it’s gonna get in the way of you experiencing high peaks of pleasure on a consistent basis. Since shallowing is something that can easily be done even in foreplay (via fingering and/ororal sex) if you get that first “release” off, that makes it easier to just sit back and enjoy the ones that (hopefully) are to follow.
2. It teaches you more about your vagina.
A part of the reason why I keep repeating certain facts about vaginas in these articles is that it’s amazing how little certain things are discussed en masse — like the size of the vaginal tube. And since shallowing helps you to stimulate the nerve endings at the entrance of your va-jay-jay along with your G-spot (which is housed a little ways from your opening), shallowing is a great way to explore that area of your body as you figure out what truly works for you and…what doesn’t.
3. It’s the perfect merging of foreplay and intercourse.
When you really stop to think about it, shallowing is like the bridge between foreplay and intercourse because you can use so many different things to do it. So, if you want to experiment with a new sex toy or you want a bit more time to “warm up the engine” before full-on penetration begins, shallowing is one of the most sexually arousing compromises there is.
4. It can help to increase your partner’s stamina.
A few years back, I penned an article for the site entitled, “We’ve Got Some All-Natural Ways To Increase Stamina & Sensitivity.” Listen, even though I onceread a GQ article that said that over 60 percent of the people they polled were fine with intercourse lasting no longer than 5-10 minutes — that poll doesn’t speak for all of us, chile.
So, if you would like your man to build up to going longer, shallowing can help to make that happen. Since he’s barely putting beyond the tip in, he can learn how to be in you for longer periods of time without being, well, in you.
5. It helps you to appreciate whatever “package” he has.
Again — and it really can’t be said enough — if shallowing is all about exploring the mere entrance of your vagina, you don’t need a man with BDE (check out “BDE: Please Let The 'It Needs To Be Huge' Myth Go”) or honestly, even anything close to it.
I mean, even though, reportedly, the size that the average woman says gives her the most orgasms is eight inches — I bet those women have never really tried shallowing before. 10”, 8”, or the average 5.5” can certainly get the job done. And well.
6. It feels A-MAZ-ING.
Okay,so now that you know about shallowing, I promise that if you put the word into your favorite search engine, you’re either gonna see articles on golfing (LOL) or sex, especially as of late. That’s because more couples are trying it out and getting mind-blowing results from it. So, if you’re looking for something new to try, give shallowing a shot.
Hey, anything that’s designed to stimulate your most intense vaginal nerve endings has got to be something for the record books. I mean, how could it not be? Lawd.
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Featured image by Juan Moyano/Getty Images