Many people think of the holidays as a time when employers are out of the office and aren’t actively seeking candidates. However, this isn’t entirely true as many companies use this time to hire, as they should. Not only that, but a candidate’s competition is low since this isn’t such a popular time to be job-hunting. Also, start dates may become more negotiable and flexible over this time period. And if you’re a freelancer, it could also be an ideal time to pitch.

This time of the year brings many things: more family time, travel, food, and more. Consider giving yourself the gift of a new job this holiday season.

Use downtime (and PTO) to update your resumes & portfolio

For most employees, the end of December through the new year is a time for rest and reflection. If you’re currently employed, use as much PTO (paid time off) as you can to focus on the two main components that will land you an interview in most creative fields: your resume and portfolio.

See the resume services we provide here.

Get organized

Now is the time to make up for all the procrastination surrounding getting organized—or the tasks you may have neglected in the midst of a challenging or hectic year. Sometimes life can feel too overwhelming (especially when job hunting) to spend time stepping back and assessing your actual job-hunting process.

Here are some questions you can ask yourself as you get organized:

• Do I have a list of my top potential employers?
• Have I created spreadsheets of jobs and where I’m at in each stage of them?
• Have I set up daily job alerts?

Gain certifications

Is there a skill you’ve been wanting to add to your resume, but just haven’t yet? Your holiday break is an opportune time to polish up on those courses or credentials needed for your dream job. You may even be able to gain a few certifications, as places like LinkedIn Learning offer courses that span from two to four hours.

Volunteer

Lastly, if you’re wanting to fill your time with something other than sending out applications but still want to improve your resume and add value to yourself as a potential employee, you should consider volunteering in your community. Not only does recent volunteer work look stellar on a resume, but it also comes with other benefits like taking a step outside of yourself, and pushes you out of your comfort zone.

There are over 100 million active users on LinkedIn every month. That’s roughly a third of the United States population. A huge chunk of those people are recruiters, managers and people you can leverage to get a new opportunity.

Fortunately, it’s fairly easy to make sure you have an all-star profile that will attract recruiters and hiring managers. Use the below tips to make sure you have a top notch profile and before you know it you will be on the phone with your next opportunity.

1. Think of LinkedIn as a search engine for recruiters

When you are writing your summary, your bullet points under each job and listing your skills, think of what terms recruiters in your industry will be searching for. It’s almost like SEO. You will show up higher, and you will be more relevant to them.

2. Focus on completeness

When your profile is simply complete, meaning it has a photo and has each section filled out, you are automatically putting yourself in a better place than people you’re competing against. To recruiters, you come off as somebody who cares, puts the extra effort in and realizes what’s important. Imagine you’re looking to buy a piece of furniture off Craigslist. Would you be more likely to purchase one with a clear image and detailed description, or would you gravitate towards one with no picture, no description and just a title?

3. Ask for recommendations from anyone you’ve done anything for

Recommendations are the same as reviews for a product or business. There is no better way to build trust than for a recruiter to read that you’ve been effective in the past. Make a list of 5-10 old colleagues, managers or former clients. Reach out to them and ask for a quick recommendation for your LinkedIn profile. Even if only 1 or 2 of them respond, that will be plenty.

4. Write a stand-out headline

At the top of your profile, write a headline that will catch the eye of a recruiter without being cheesy. For instance, if non-profit is your niche, instead of “Seeking a New Marketing Position,” try “Digital Marketing Expert for Non-Profits.” If you’re just getting started, rather than “Student at Some University” or “Business Management Graduate” go with something like “Financial Analyst seeking a new position” or “Digital Marketer seeking media roles.”

5. Write industry articles

LinkedIn Pulse allows anybody to be an author. Go the extra mile and write a few insightful articles about your industry. When a recruiter goes to a profile with quality content written about a particular subject, the candidate is seen as a subject matter expert and immediately has more potential to be contacted.

6. Have a clear and decent-quality photo

It doesn’t even need to be entirely professional or taken with an expensive camera. Any new-ish smartphone can take a clear enough photo that will suffice for your LinkedIn. Find an area with good lighting on either a solid color background or somewhere outside with a neutral background. Just make sure the photo is a headshot from the shoulders up so that your face is the primary focus. Wear a collar or something professional on your top half, and you are ready to go. No need to go crazy with it—just have a clear photo.

7. Link to your LinkedIn from your email signature

Having an email signature is just another subtle way to position yourself as a professional who cares. In most professional roles, you will have an email signature with your name, email, phone number and a few relevant links. Make one for your personal email as well. Include a link to your LinkedIn profile and make the link text say “Connect With Me on LinkedIn!” or something similar. This is another small step that could set you apart from other candidates who just end emails with Sincerely, Joe.

8. Add links to a personal website or portfolio

LinkedIn is the new resume. Fortunately, it’s way better than a traditional resume because not only does it list all of the same information as a resume, but it also allows you to include links to external sources as well. Take advantage of this and link to all relevant projects, websites and pages that describe what you’ve done in more detail.

9. Edit the default LinkedIn URL you’re provided

This is just a quick way to increase the “completeness” of your profile, and it’s also another touchpoint for a recruiter to remember your name. You can click “Edit” on your profile and change the random letters and numbers to your actual name or something else unique to you.

10. Join groups where your ideal targets will be

LinkedIn allows you to join Groups that cover just about any industry or topic. Once you’re accepted into the groups (yes, you must make a request to join), post some of the industry articles you’ve written, and be sure to include a call-to-action stating you’re seeking a position or would be interested in speaking to recruiters. Just don’t post too much, or make it too obvious and have people tune you out for being spammy.

11. Write a strong 3-5 sentence summary

At the beginning of your LinkedIn profile, take advantage of the ability to write a summary. Introduce yourself, give clear insights into where you are professionally and what you’re looking to do. Do not overdo it with buzzwords, don’t be vague about who you are or what you do, and don’t come off as too much of a salesperson. If it ends up being longer than a few sentences, break it up into multiple paragraphs. Remember, most people view your profile on mobile, and text can end up seeming very long even if it’s not.

12. Post at the right times

If you are looking for a job, and you’re actively posting articles, sharing updates or reposting interesting content, do it at the right times so people see it. Recruiters will likely be on LinkedIn in the early morning and during business hours. Other people might be on in the evenings after work. Just tailor your posts to the times your ideal audience will actually see them.

13. Leverage your existing connections

Occasionally, creeping on LinkedIn is fine. Use your connections to find some relevant 2nd and 3rd level connections in your industry. View their profile, and your name will pop up for them as “Viewed Your Profile”—and you will be on their radar. Combine that with a complete and efficient profile, and you will have people reaching out in no time.

LinkedIn is the most powerful tool in the world for developing new professional connections and unlocking opportunities that could change your life. It’s right there for the taking. Take advantage of the opportunity to make yourself shine.

Has LinkedIn helped you earn opportunities in the past? Do you have any other tips to add for those who may be new to the platform and are currently seeking jobs?

1. No One Is Responding to My Job Applications. What Should I Do?
   We’ve all been there. Based on the comments and questions from some of you, it’s not surprising this one topped our list.
2. Keep These Words off Your Resume
   It seems like those cliche terms make your resume sound like it should, but they really don’t.
3. 10 Instagram Profiles Every Media Professional Should Follow
   These accounts will help you be better at your job and enjoy your day a bit more.
4. Nailed the Interview but Didn’t Get the Job? Here’s Why
   If only being great at interviews were all it took to land the job.
5. Nail These 4 Interview Questions to Land the Job
   These expected interview questions need to have unexpected answers.
6. How to Find a Job in a New Field When You Have No Experience
   The career transition can be a hard nut to crack, but it’s 100% doable.
7. 10 Digital Skills Every Media Pro Needs to Master
   Forget about what your “role” is. You need all of these skills. Period.
8. 8 Key Steps After the Interview to Land the Job
   There’s the interview prep, the interview itself and then there’s everything after.
9. Social Media Skills You Need to Hone Now
   These are the social media skills that matter (right now).
10. Breaking into Medical Writing and Editing
    A steady AND lucrative writing/editing career? Makes sense this one made the cut.

When You’re Job Seeking—and Employed

It can be tempting to update your LinkedIn profile while you’re currently employed and searching for work. But while re-writing your headline and bolstering your resume can attract more recruiters, these moves can could also be seen as big red flags to your current boss.

“I would say you need to take the necessary precautions when updating your LinkedIn profile especially when you haven’t communicated that you are leaving,” says Randy Ksar, VP of Digital at Voce Communications. “Updating your LinkedIn profile should probably be the last step when you are currently employed and looking for a job.”

But if you think you need to make some tweaks in order to snag a new job, just make sure to take these two extra steps:

1. Turn off “Notify Your Network.” This option is found on the right column of your profile page.

    

2. Turn off “Sharing profile edits.” To do this, scroll over your icon in the top right corner, select Privacy & Settings, select the Privacy tab, select “Sharing profile edits,” and switch this to ‘No.”

When You Land a New Job

Sure, after you land a new job, the first thing you want to do is update your LinkedIn profile. But it might be better to wait, and maybe even check in with the new boss first. “My recommendation is to chat with your manager before you update your LinkedIn profile, especially if your role is public facing,” says Ksar.

While Ksar says a good amount of time to wait is generally a week or so “as long as you’ve got your personal brand story and your role in the company defined,” it’s smart to consider what happens next.

“Remember, think about what will happen when you update your job title/description: one, your network will congratulate; two, your network will ask you questions about your job; three, you’ll start getting recruiters and potential partners emailing/connecting with you,” says Ksar.

And then there’s the other consideration: What if the job doesn’t work out? Sometimes, while a new gig looks great on paper, it can end up being the wrong fit for you.

So until you know for sure this new job is the one, it might be best to hold off on that update.

Ready for a new job? Check out the job board to find a great fit now.

1. Prepare to be laid off at some point in your career

It may seem like a depressing place to start, but if you’re ready for the reality of working in this industry, you’ll be prepared to pivot.

After 18 years of working mostly at magazines, Bret Begun, current editor of Bloomberg Businessweek’s Etc. section, has seen his fair shares of layoffs and shutdowns.

“If you work in media, chances are it’s happened or is going to happen to you,” Begun says. “It’s much better when it happens in June than January, so you can use the excuse that ‘no one hires in the summer’ to chill for a few months.”

Use that time to figure out what you liked about your last job and what you didn’t like, and try to make sure your next job has more of what you like and less of what you don’t like.

“That’s the hidden opportunity,” he says.

2. Let people know you’re on the hunt

Lauren Deen has won three Emmy Awards, written a New York Times best-selling book and is recognized for excellence in culinary writing by the James Beard Foundation. She’s also received a call on vacation that her television show has been canceled–her employment terminated immediately.

“Television is brutal,” says Deen, president and executive producer of her company, Cake Productions. “I went through my rolodex and cold-called everyone I had every worked for or met in the industry telling them I was looking for work.”  

It’s not easy to divulge your situation, but as Begun advises: have a cocktail and start connecting. Work whatever contacts you have to see if they know of openings.

“This was incredibly uncomfortable for me,” says Deen. “I later realized this is nothing to be ashamed of—a strong work ethic is rare and valued and got me to where I am.”

3. Be conscious of your social media presence

Chelsea Castle, marketing manager at the branding agency Ologie, suggests applying a “grandma filter” on every social media post. Before hitting send, ask yourself: Would I want my grandma to see this tweet?

“That doesn’t mean you can’t be saucy or show your personality,” she says. “But, keep it PG-13 and balance your content with professional vs. personal.” And don’t be afraid to be the latter. “My most popular tweets are always the dumb ones about my spilling coffee or falling asleep in a coffee shop,” she admits.

“Social media is your number one tool in job seeking and branding yourself, but you can’t just be there,” Castle says. “You have to play the game, follow the rules, and make it your own. Be professional, interact and engage–and sell yourself–but be direct, honest and genuine.”

However, as an editor, Begun says he won’t be skimming Klout scores. “If there’s a writer I’m interested in working with, I’ll poke around so that I can see if the casting is right,” he says. “But I’m not hiring freelancers off of Instagram.”

4. Stop redesigning your resume

There’s a fine line between spell checking and splitting hairs.

“My guess is anyone interested in hiring you is going off a recommendation, not a resume,” says Begun, whose resume is simply written into a Google template.

Deen suggests creating a supplementary sheet to list skill sets as titles (i.e. executive producer) and a result of these skill sets as bullets underneath (e.g. Emmy-award winning show). “This allows your prospective employer to see your skills and how you can bring them revenue,” she explains. “And it’s also an interesting way to respond to interview questions rather than a laundry list of your show credits.” Such a concept can be applied to any industry to show your value.

5. Figure out how to best help a company

Begun finds sometimes, especially with younger interviewees, job-seekers tend to focus on what a job or internship will mean for their resume. “And less focused on how they can help…me,” he says.

“I know my pitch,” Deen says confidently. “Figure out what you have that no one else does.  It doesn’t have to be a major splashy thing but what distinguishes you—basically why would the employer feel it would be a huge loss if they don’t hire you.”

6. Fill the gaps in your resume with whatever you can

The one relief of working in a creative industry is the ability to freelance, which can sometime be a way to fake it ‘til you make it. “Then you can point to something and say, ‘Look, see, I was doing things.’” says Begun. Freelancing can also provide a measure of personal accountability between gigs.

If your area of expertise doesn’t lend itself to the in-between, Deen suggests other avenues like taking a class, volunteering, or learning an instrument. “Do something with purpose that shows another side to you,” she says.

7. Court the prospective company or organization

You know how hard you creep on someone’s social media before a first date? That’s the spirit.

“I read everything I can and follow the thread to unexpected places,” says Deen. Get lost in a company’s social media and note if an employee was at the same event, knows an acquaintance of yours, or if you can connect to the interviewer in a personal way.

8. Target growing industries

Despite our current food-obsessed culture, making it your career wasn’t always cool.

“It was mostly blue collar, or books written by diplomat’s wives and fancy French men,” Deen says of breaking into the industry. She credits good timing alongside her talent as a producer.

“The best way is to belong to the community you want to work within. Attend lectures and ask questions or just ask people what they do and where they think the industry is going,” she says.

Castle advises all it takes is a little creativity to get paid for your passion. “Don’t pigeonhole yourself into any industry – listen to your gut and see where it takes you,” she says of making the leap from journalism to marketing.

9. Think twice before running off to grad school

Generally speaking, Begun says journalists learn more by being out in the field. “And it’s probably not worth incurring debt,” he warns of continuing education out of desperation.

“I think of my time at Martha [Stewart Living] as my graduate school and internship into ‘real’ production. It’s also a work calling card. If you survived there and won your Emmy’s what else could you not do?” says Deen. Not having a paid-for piece of paper may lead to rejection, but as Deen says, “Just keep moving.”

10. Don’t let the hunt haunt you

The following are suggestions for not obsessing over unemployment: Exercise often, avoid drinking too much, go to galleries, see films, and listen to people smarter than you at lectures.

“Basically reframe your mind for fresh ideas,” Deen says of her suggestions. “But map it out so each day, week, and month has a purpose. And let yourself take a few hours off from the search.”

Bonus Habit: Know when to jump ship

Perhaps you’re reading this at your place of employment and fantasizing about a fresh start. Do it.

“A good friend and mentor of mine once told me, ‘When you’re ready to jump, you’ll know. You’ll know it in your gut.’” says Castle. “Many parts of my [previous] job became iterative to a point that I didn’t even have to think half of the time.”

If you’re maxed out, not challenged, or unsatisfied, you may want to move on. Many don’t do this for fear of the unknown, deserting comfortability (or friends), and end up settling. “That’s the worst thing you can do for yourself,” says Castle.

“Trust me, Stockholm Syndrome is real,” adds Deen.

If you’re looking now or want to know when a perfect job opens up, set up a job alert and never miss the next opportunity.

Take advantage of this super hot job market—and this federal holiday—to knock out a few applications.

To help make you the most electable candidate, here are some of Mediabistro’s favorite job-hunting tips. So go forth, read up and apply before you’re too busy with work again.

1. Polish up Your Resume

Take a good honest look at your resume to ensure it’s free of red flags: After triple-checking for typos and grammar mistakes, confirm that the chronology is clear. And make sure to include relevant keywords into your bullet points; this helps get your resume past the applicant tracking systems while making it easier for a recruiter to determine your transferrable skills.

2. Create a Killer Cover Letter

When the job you want becomes available, up your chances of getting the hiring manager’s attention with an irresistible cover letter. Bone up on the basics of the best covers: a strong intro that hooks the reader, an alignment of your strengths with the duties listed in the job description and your salary requirements, if requested.

3. Prepare to Crush the Interview

Interviewers like to throw curve balls—trick questions that let them see how applicants handle them. Get a jump on these by preparing your script ahead of time, so you won’t be caught short by such conversational minefields as “Why did you leave your last position?”, “What’s the biggest mistake you’ve ever made at work?” and “What’s your salary requirement?”.

4. Get Your Social House in Order

Don’t kid yourself: A hiring manager will eventually check your social media profiles. So get your job-seeking social media game on point. Make sure your LinkedIn profile has a photo, and describes and markets your current and previous positions. Scrub your Facebook wall of controversial, unprofessional posts. And take a look at your past tweets to make sure there’s nothing there to make a would-be employer wince.

5. Get Ready to Network

OK, so you’re not going to hit a conference today and make a hundred new contacts. But on your day off, you can lay the groundwork for some low-key networking that could land you your next job. Spend some time today researching who you could set up an informational interview with. Draw up a list of people—your references, your LinkedIn contacts, your fellow college alums—you could approach for an informational interview.

6. Learn a New Skill

Yes, it’s your day off. And you’ve got an afternoon of binge watching on Netflix planned. But for the time it takes to stream an episode of Making a Murderer, you can boost your skills, and your hireability.

Mediabistro’s Skills in 60, one-hour training sessions, get you up to speed in today’s most desirable media job skills. That way, when a job posting that calls for, say, email marketing skills or Twitter analytics, you’ll be ready to roll. (And there couldn’t be a better time to sign up. Now through January 6, all courses are 50% off with code RESOLUTION2017.) 

Social Media

Gone are the days when employers only looked at what’s on your resume to find out if you’re a good fit. But with this extra pressure to appear extra special online comes the opportunity to network, showcase your strengths and get a glimpse into your potential company’s culture. Even if the position doesn’t require you to be social media-savvy, you can almost guarantee someone is looking at your accounts—so give them something to look at.

Currently, Gillie Houston has almost 100K followers on Instagram, which is rather unusual for a journalist. But it means more than people just “like” her posts. “A large following shows a brand, publication or company that you have the natural skill and impulse for social media, which not all people—particularly those who didn’t grow up sharing every part of their life on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram—have,” says Houston.

She didn’t land her first job strictly through social media, but her employers were “shocked” by the amount of followers she had when they hired her. “Since that first job [at Yahoo], I’ve definitely gotten writing gigs and other freelance opportunities either directly because of Instagram, or because of connections I’ve made through Instagram, which I think is one of the most amazing things about the platform,” says the now full-time freelance writer.

Brandon Chivers, an art director at Movement Strategy, also landed his first internship through a recruiter who had stumbled upon his online presence. Since then he’s learned that the “creeping” works both ways.

“Social media has always affected my job search because it gives more insight to the companies that I want to apply to,” he says. “I tend to heavily use Instagram for this specifically because I like to look through who these agencies have as clients, the quality of work and their vision.” He also notes it’s a good place to start to see what kind of influence a company has in your industry and how you are already connected.

Portfolio Websites

If you’re already pouring your energy into your work, why not show it off?

Chivers was not only discovered from his personal blog, but then poached to work internally at the agency doing the hiring for another firm. “It’s kind of funny, actually,” he says of the bait-and-switch.

“I think potential employers are drawn to my blog because I work primarily in a visual formatting, so I’ve developed an eye and sense of aesthetic when I post something,” he says. Chivers describes his work as “moody” and “cohesive” which he says translates to the type of client work he was recruited to develop. His internship turned into a job offer three months later, which lead to him dropping out of art school to come on board as one of the company’s lead art directors. “It just works in my favor,” he says of his blog’s influence in the advertising industry.

Quick tip: Chivers recommends adding your email address to anything and everything online to make it easy for companies to reach out directly. This can especially be helpful if you are already at a job and trying to discreetly make moves.

Friends and Family

‘Tis the season to let the little things go and remember why you tolerate your loved ones at the table. It’s also a chance to pass around the spiked cider and put the feelers out to see who’s hiring. Even if your brother-in-law is a pilot and you really want to be a painter, he may have overheard a passenger in need of a hand letterer.

Jesse Hirsch, a current contributing editor to GOOD Magazine, said he has almost never strictly applied to a job online or with a resume. “My job hunts are usually not traditional hunts,” he says. “Almost every job I’ve gotten so far has been word of mouth about a particular position while I’m still at another position.”

Even if your contacts aren’t aware of anything at the moment, you can still use this season of selflessness to call in a favor. “I recently did a trick where I asked a bunch of editors if they would write two to three nice sentences about me, then compiled them into a PDF,” Hirsch says. “Feels like a good ‘bonus item’ to include in an application.”

But be sure it’s not just the tryptophan from the turkey talking. “You have to be able to back up everything,” says Chivers. “Build a brand, build a story. But show them what they’re really getting.”

You don’t know who else is in the running for that opening you know you’d be perfect for. If you’re out of work, your bank balance may be getting low; if you’re in a job you hate, you may just want make a change, fast.

Looking for a job—especially if you lost your last one—can be one of the most stressful events in your life. But take a deep breath and relax: There are ways around the stress, especially if you know the main causes.

Here are five of the most common job search stressors, and how to nip each one in the bud.

1. Being impatient.

“Finding a new job is a job in itself,” says Nicole Williams, founder and CEO of WORKS, a career consulting company for women. “It takes time to find the right next move.”

Sure, it’d be awesome if you scored an interview after the first job application you sent out, but that’s just not realistic, especially if you’re in a competitive media industry. Patience really is a virtue in a job search, as it can take anywhere from six months to 18 months to land an offer.

Stress buster: Use your time wisely. You might think checking the job boards every few hours is productive, but a better plan is to set up job alerts so opportunities come to you.

Maximize your time by spending the majority of your job search networking in person or on LinkedIn and other social media sites; researching companies you’re most interested in and reaching out to contacts who work there or may know someone who does; and sprucing up your resume.

2. Feeling overwhelmed.

The job search cliche is true: Looking for a job is a job, especially when you’re unemployed. And since there are no regular office hours with this particular gig, the whole multistep process—networking, looking for openings, revising and reviewing your resume, preparing for your interview, repeat—can be monotonous, unfulfilling and all-consuming. It’s easy to start feeling overwhelmed by the seemingly nonstop loop.

Stress buster: Get organized. Create a job search schedule you can stick to, with a detailed checklist on which you can actually mark off completed to-dos. This will help you take control over the process, and keep you from feeling as if you’re looking for a job 24/7.

Set aside a specific period of time (maybe it’s a couple of hours on the weekends or every Monday and Wednesday night) to take on a single task on your list.

For every milestone you hit, such as refreshing your online portfolio, give yourself a reward—say, a favorite sweet or savory treat, a nap, or a Netflix binge-watching session. You’ll soon replace that I’m-not-making-any-progress frustration with a feeling of achievement.

3. Letting anxiety get the best of you.

When you’re unemployed—or desperate to get out of a bad job situation— and not getting calls for interviews, it’s easy to get uneasy.

“When people feel stress or pressure, it can cause anxiety or even depression—due to rejection, most likely, when searching for a job,” explains Dr. Jason Richardson, a psychologist and author of the self-help book It’s All BS! We’re All Wrong, And You’re All Right.

“Stressed out or depressed people tend not to take care of themselves as they would when things are going well,” he adds. “They also tend to disengage socially and possibly emotionally. In some cases of stress or high anxiety, people lash out at those closest to them.”

Stress buster: Stay active. Keeping busy with activities you enjoy is one of the best remedies for stress and anxiety. Use any downtime to meet up with a friend for lunch or drinks, check out what’s new at your local museum  or art gallery, start that book you’ve been meaning to read, or go window shopping.

Also get regular exercise: The release of endorphins will help keep your emotions in check, and the activity will help you get enough sleep, which is crucial to reducing stress and anxiety.

It’s also important to monitor your mood and look for professional help, if necessary. “Situational depression can be treated by working with a clinical counselor or in a group therapy setting,” says Richardson.

4. Psyching yourself out about the competition.

“I’ve met many job seekers who give more credit to others applying for the job they want than they give themselves,” says Don Raskin, senior partner at marketing firm MME and author of The Dirty Little Secrets of Getting Your Dream Job.

Raskin recalls one job candidate who worked herself into such a state during her interview with him that she fell apart, unable to keep her composure, within the first few minutes. Fortunately for the candidate, Raskin was generous enough to give her a chance to start again.

Later, he says, “She told me that she didn’t think she could measure up to what I was looking for in a job candidate. She had all the qualifications, so, in reality, her stress was needlessly built up in her head.”

Stress buster: Exude confidence—even when you don’t feel confident. You’ve heard it before: Fake it till you make it.

“If you have prepared properly, have a story to tell, present yourself professionally and close the interview well, you will be ahead of the competition,” advises Raskin.

“You have something to sell and employers want to hear it, but only if you can package it up in a desirable way,” he adds. “If you can, it is very likely that job offers are going to come your way.”

Richardson, who coaches and speaks to high-performing athletes and professionals, adds that the best remedy for job search stress is actually getting the job.

“I would ask not only what are you doing, but what are you not doing? What are you learning from this experience? These moments are not comfortable, but are fertile ground for huge growth and self-reflection, which can have big returns in years to come,” says Richardson.

5. Searching for a new job when you already have a job.

So you’ve decided you’re ready to move on from your current company. How do you squeeze in the time to search for new opportunities when you have a demanding media job?

And if you do score some interviews, how do you maneuver sneaking out every few days to meet with potential employers? There are only so many personal days you can take before your boss gets suspicious.

“The last thing you want to do is get fired for missing work while looking for a new job,” cautions Williams.

Stress buster: Be strategic about scheduling interviews. Work around your current job schedule to avoid missing important meetings or critical deadlines. If you’re going through multiple rounds of interviews at a single company, or have calls for single interviews with several companies, consider using vacation or personal days.

“If mornings are traditionally slow at your job, schedule your interviews for those times to minimize stress,” advises Williams. Better yet try to schedule interviews for early mornings or after work.

Worried about appearing non-accommodating to your potential employer? “Remember that a hiring manager will always understand and appreciate you have a job and are juggling things around to make the timing work for everyone,” says Williams.

Now stop stressing, and focus on your end goal: Finding the right job for you.

With hiring managers and recruiters using Google, LinkedIn and Twitter as means of researching candidates, it’s now more important than ever to be seen in the results.

“In the highly competitive ad tech and marketing job market, employers expect to see at least a minimum presence,” says Mitchell Reichgut, CEO of Jun Group. “Candidates with scattershot or outdated materials will be at a disadvantage.”

Digital content and marketing is the field that creates the stories told online. You need to be able to show that you not only understand these concepts but can use the latest available tools to share the story of your personal brand. If you’re not able to do this, hiring managers will have a tough time seeing how you’ll be able to do the same for their company.

Increase Your Visibility

If you’re not the type of person who snaps, tweets and posts updates all the time, it’s not the end of the world. With a few quick adjustments to your online habits, you can up your social presence in no time. Start by tackling the basics.

Update Your LinkedIn

“At the very least, candidates should have up-to-date Linkedin profiles,” says Reichgut. “This has become the standard in the industry and it’s table stakes for anyone looking for a competitive position.”

LinkedIn makes it incredibly easy to see how complete your profile is, and will prompt you with tips to making your profile closer to its “All-Star” status. Need some help getting started? Check out this video on the basics of building your LinkedIn profile.

Want even more LinkedIn help? Our counselors can help you raise your presence with a professional LinkedIn profile edit.

Create and Share Content

Another way to up your visibility is by developing and sharing content online. As Reichgut says, “Candidates may also use blogs, updates and other social networks to enhance their overall profiles and increase their exposure.”

One of the easiest ways to get started with this is to use Twitter to share articles that you find interesting—and that relate to the field. You don’t have to go crazy here, but try to be consistent with your posting. Try setting a goal, such as sharing three industry-related articles a week on Twitter and Linkedin.

Don’t Forget Facebook

Reichgut also says Facebook is an area job seekers should spend some time as it’s “increasingly becoming a destination for recruitment and it is a platform that should be considered by candidates, especially millennials.”

But don’t let this overwhelm you. If you’re just looking to break in, Reichgut says to start by focusing on your LinkedIn, and expand from there. “LinkedIn is the requirement,” says Reichgut. “As job seekers become advanced and get familiar with other platforms, they can extend their voices to make a bigger impression.”

We understand how busy you are at work, so we’ve rounded up our best recent career and job search advice so you can spend some downtime in the next few days fueling your job search.

5 Steps to Proving You’re Committed to Diversity—With Your Job Listing: HR reps and hiring managers: Learn how to vet your job listing to assure it’s not discriminatory—and that it attracts the best applicants.

Track—and Tout—Your Successes For Your Career and Your Job Search: It’s always a good idea to have a running list of your career wins to prove your worth, whether you’re searching for a new job or are trying to bolster your career. Here’s how to do it.

Warning: These 8 Common Pitfalls Could Bomb Your Next Interview: Read carefully these phrases, topics and questions to avoid at all costs if want to move to the next level, and ultimately get the offer.

Get Back to Job-Search Basics With These Fundamentals You May Have Forgotten: Restart your job search from square one with these fundamentals you can’t afford to ignore.

5 Simple Tools to Help You Create Great Video Content for Your Job Search: Video is becoming an indispensible job skill. Here are tools that can showcase your work—and make you more hireable—with just a little effort.

8 Warning Signs You’ve Gotten an Offer From a Bad Employer: Congrats! You got the job offer! But oops — something seems off. Here are eight warning signs that your prospective employer might not be the best.

What Does a Copy Editor Do?: Get the scoop on what’s involved in this vital role.

Talking Too Much in an Interview Can Cost You the Job. Here’s How to Fix It: Learn how to relax, and not talk so much, in your next job interview.

5 Secrets to Becoming a Six-Figure Freelancer: Here’s how to bring home the bacon with your freelancing, from pros who already do it.

Why You Need a New Resume—Even If You’re Not Looking for a Job Yet: Here’s how to get a clean, concise, targeted CV, and be ready for any opportunity that might come along.