The Ideal Christmas Gift? A Job!

THE IDEAL CHRISTMAS GIFT? A JOB! -- With a ragged U.S. economy lurching into 2004, many out-of-work Americans could be asking Santa to leave a job offer in their Christmas stocking. But Chet Rispoli, director of Temple's Career Development Services, argues that New Year employment will only come to those who help themselves during the holidays. "Between Thanksgiving and New Year's, hiring is almost at a standstill, but there are many things you can do through November and December to prepare for a fresh start on January 1," Rispoli says. "It's a great time to do all your homework--targeting your search, reaching out to contacts and positioning yourself to enter the market immediately after the holidays." And the extra benevolence of an employer's holiday hangover typically equates to lively January job markets. "Budgets often kick in and hiring initiatives take precedence in the New Year," he adds. "There's almost no better time to be looking for jobs."