Expat Networking: Holidays are a Great Time to Nurture and Grow your Network

December and January are usually some of the slowest months of the year for companies hiring across the globe. In some countries, very little business is done at all in December. As a result it is often said that you can't make much progress in a job search during the holiday season. 

Given that more jobs (and business opportunities) are secured through networking than any other method, I'd have to disagree.

The holidays provide numerous opportunities to nurture and grow your network. So whether you are an expat in the midst of a job search, or a career-saavy expatriate who understands that managing your career means taking regular action towards building and strengthening your network, here are a few networking suggestions for the holiday season: 

• Nurture current relationships: Relationships need attention if they are to survive and thrive. Living or working abroad can make nurturing relationships with people (particularly family and old friends and acquaintences) difficult when you don't have an opportunity to see them in person because they live in another country. So take advantage of the season to reconnect. Send holiday cards (or environmentally friendly e-cards for those who want to avoid bottlenecks with postal services), being sure include a brief update if you haven't communicated for some time. Extend an invitation to connect via an online network like Facebook so its easier to stay in touch and keep up with what's going on in each other's lives. 

• Pick up the "virtual phone": Many expats depend on online networks and email to stay in touch with their network because they literally cannot physically network with people in various locations around the globe. Although international phone cards are fairly common, making calls internationally can also be expensive. Online networking is certainly a powerful way to connect with people, but taking action to move relationships offline is still important. So take advantage of free voice-over IP solutions like Skype to stay in touch with a "virtual phone" - or even have video calls if both parties have a webcam - for little to no cost.

• Take advantage of holiday parties and celebrations to meet new people: Look for opportunities to connect with people locally that you might not have previously. The festive mood created during holiday parties tends to make people more open to engaging with new people. Make a commitment to meet at least one new person at each event you attend.

• Take advantage of other opportunities to meet people: Volunteering is a great way to meet new people that does not revolve around lots of eating and drinking which is often the case during the holidays (which isn't always appealing to everyone). There are usually increased opportunities around the holidays to volunteer at places like soup kitchens or homeless shelters. You can also offer to help local organizations with things like bakes sales to raise money for a good cause or arrange for gift collection for those less fortunate.

• Networking is about giving - so give: Think about ways that you can support and give generously to your network. Introduce people you feel might have common interests. Donate your time and energy to helping someone with a project or event. Make a 10 euro/USD donation to your favorite charity to each person you send a holiday card to and let them know why that organization is important to you. The more you give, the more it will come back you.

These are just some of the ways you can take action to build and grow your network over the holidays - can you think of others?  Please share your suggestions by leaving a comment so others can benefit.

YOUR EXPAT SUCCESS TIP: Choose at least one thing you can do to nurture your current network and one thing you can do to grow your network over the holidays. Make the time to get in touch with those living in other countries you don't normally see or speak with often. Embrace the spirit of giving over the holidays - because its the true essence of what good networking is all about.

SOME ADDITIONAL WORDS OF WISDOM FOR THE HOLIDAYS

I am honored to be a member of the Career Collective, a group of career experts who will each month share their advice and tips to enhance the management of your career. Today the collective has shared holiday job search tips (as I have above) which I have provided links to below:

@MartinBuckland, Elite Resumes, "Season’s Greetings and your Job Search”

@GayleHoward, The Executive Brand, It's Christmas: And a ho-ho-ho-hum?" 

@KCCareerCoach, Career Chaos, “The Gift Every Laid Off Job Seeker Needs"

@resumeservice, Resume Writing Blog,“Holiday Resume Sparkle: Outshine the New Year Job-Search Mob”

@heathermundell, life@work, “Have a Holly Jolly Job Search”

@sweetcareers,Sweet Careers, “Holiday Job Search Tips for College Students 2009″

@careersherpa, Hannah Morgan: Career Sherpa, “Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Kwanzaa Cheers”

@careerealism, CAREEREALISM.com, “Holiday Tip for Job Seekers: 4 Ways to Impress Others with Your Professionalism”

@heatherhuhman, HeatherHuhman.com, “4 Tips for Making the Most of Holiday Job Hunting”

@LaurieBerenson, Sterling Career Concepts, “Three Resolutions to Take It Up a Notch”

@KatCareerGal, Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters Tips Blog, “Avoiding the Holiday Blues in Your Job Search”

@WorkWithIllness, WorkingWithillness.com, “Avoid this Minefield: No Holiday Here!”

@DawnBugni, “The Write Solution Could that sound really be opportunity? During the Holidays?”

@andyinnaples, “Shift Your Focus to the Highest Impact Job Search Activities During the Holidays to Leverage Your Time”

@erinkennedycprw, Professional Resume Services, “How to keep up the Job Hunt during the Holidays”

@keppie_careers, Keppie Careers, “Four tips for effective networking follow-up for the holidays and the rest of the year”

@ValueIntoWords, Career Trend, “Navigating the Mistle Toe of Job Search”

@GLHoffman, What Would Dad Say, “Merry Christmas! Can I Buy You Coffee to Talk About Me?”

@BarbaraSafani, Career Solvers, “Holiday Networking Can Facilitate New Year Opportunities”

@expatcoachmegan, Career By Choice Blog, “Expat Networking: Holidays Are a Great Time to Nurture and Grow Your Network”

@chandlee, The Emerging Professional Blog, “Footprints & Associations: Job Search Tips for the Holidays”

@jobhuntorg, Jobhunt.org, "(Holiday) Party your way to a New Job"

Comments

[Meg Montford]

Relationship building is the key to career success whether looking for a new opportunity or nurturing your current career. Thanks for sharing your great tips, Megan!

[Rosa Elizabeth Vargas]

Love all your tips. Appreciate the enlightening perspective: networking is about giving, pick up the virtual phone! Awesome! Listen, up job seekers.

Thanks you,

Rosa

[Chandlee]

Megan,

Great tips. I stopped by the Roger Smith Hotel in New York on Sunday. Rumor has it you practice what you preach--the staff there really enjoyed their visit with you!

Clearly, you have the ability to network effectively across "ponds." Any cross-cultural essentials for job seekers attending holiday gatherings in a foreign country for the first time?

All the Best,
Chandlee

[Barbara Safani]

Megan,

I like the tip about the virtual phone. How wonderful it must be for expats to now have so many efficient and inexpensive ways to connect with people across the globe.

[Jacqui Barrett-Poindexter]

Megan,
Excellent tips for expats and ALL others in job search.

I particularly like the idea of virtually connecting because it is such a non-intrusive way to refresh relationships that may be in need of nourishment.

As you point out, the holidays encourage such nurturing and growing of networks.

I also enjoyed how you offered a diversity of options for networking, including volunteering, particularly for those who don't cherish the idea of eat/drink events.

Great post, Megan!

Jacqui

[Laurie Berenson]

Great post, Megan. I particularly like the suggestion of meeting at least one new person at every event. You make a good point - people are festive and generally more open to talking and socializing. Make that work to your advantage!

[RosalindJoffe]

Megan - Your points are all on target. And what shines through to me is that it doesn't matter where you live or what challenges you face.The same concepts apply. It's not rocket science but most of us just get lazy!

Great job as always
Rosalind

[ExpatCoachMegan]

Thanks for all the great comments!

@Meg - absolutely - could not agree more!

@Rosa - Yes, networking, holidays and giving are all very connected!

@Chandlee - I loved what Brian was doing with social media at the RS Hotel - he's fantastic! Cross- cultural tips? Read up on holiday customs - and observe before you engage!

@Barbara - skype is an absolute lifesaver - I love it!

@Jacqui - I really think that even when seeing people in person isn't possible - a telephone or video chat does wonders to strengthen online connections.

@Laurie - I definitely think setting specific goals helps focus your efforts and makes you feel like you've accomplished something that is connected to a greater goal. Lack of feeling "satisfied" is a feeling many people share when networking..

@Rosalind - Tis true - some of the most important and powerful strategies are universal!