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How to get hired before the year's end

Posted at 2:40 PM, Dec 18, 2020
and last updated 2020-12-18 14:40:58-05

The unemployment rate for Ohio went down this November compared to October but is still up overall compared to 2019, The Labor Department reported Friday.

This November's rate of 5.7% is down from a revised 6.1% in October. The November 2019 rate was only 3.5%.

The Labor Department also reported this week that the number of Americans filing for first time unemployment benefits is at the highest levels since the beginning of September.

While the pandemic grinds on with holidays around the corner, recruiters are telling job seekers to not wait until next year to submit applications. In fact, December is usually one of the best months of the year to look for a job.

With so many working from home now, help desk positions and customer service jobs are in high demand. Also in demand are accounts payable clerks, collections clerks and human resources positions. If you're searching for a new job, recruiters recommend finding a way to transfer any skills you have. For example, if you lost a job in the service industry during this pandemic, your skill set would be great for customer service positions.

Karen Policastro with Robert Half Recruiting Firm said now is as good a time as any to put yourself out there.

“Make sure you are extremely active over the holidays because many hiring and decision makers want to be able to have their staff filled and complete and hit the ground running come January," Policastro said. “We're hearing from many hiring managers that they will still be working to fill their positions over the next couple of weeks.”

Policastro said many companies are also looking to hire temporary or contract positions, especially while they're remote. Hiring managers are also looking for candidates via LinkedIn, so make sure your profile is up to date and says "available immediately.”