The next few weeks are typically filled with holiday office parties and my advice if you’re invited to any, either in your own company or as a guest at a significant other’s place of business, by all means go.
Take in as many as you can. Secret Santas, costumed events, pot luck lunches, entertainment nights, whatever. They’re always a good time. Just make sure to show up with the intention of having fun. Don’t view them as a good opportunity to network. It’s not the best time to initiate business talk.
If you attempt to hook up with somebody for a serious discussion about potential job opportunities, for example, you usually get hit with, "Things are chaotic right now, what with the holidays coming up and all. Let’s try and touch base in the new year."
Ah yes, the proverbial new year. And just when does it officially begin?
Not the first or second week January, it seems. Call that soon and you’ll no doubt hear, "Things are chaotic right now, what with the holidays having just wrapped up. Let’s try and touch base a bit later."
So you bide your touching base time until February. Alas, February is still a tad early in the new year, apparently.
"Things are chaotic right now, what with the kids coming home for Reading Week. Try a bit later."
What’s in store for you in March?
"Things are chaotic right now, what with March Break coming up. Try a bit later."
How about April?
"Things are chaotic right now, what with tax season upon us. Try a bit later."
And May?
"Things are chaotic right now, what with the older kids coming home from university. Try a bit later."
What’s the verdict in June?
"Things are chaotic right now, what with the younger kids finishing school. Try a bit later."
July and August, perchance?
"Things are chaotic right now, what with everybody up at the cottage on the weekends. Try a bit later."
September, maybe?
"Things are chaotic right now, what with everybody back to school. Try a bit later."
October, then?
"Things are chaotic right now, what with Thanksgiving and Halloween both coming up. Try a bit later."
So by process of elimination, it has to be November, right? Afraid not.
"Things are chaotic right now, what with me being up to my eyeballs working on the annual budget. Try a bit later."
Which brings us right back to where we started.
So, like I said, go to as many parties as possible. But remember any serious talk is best left for another day. And when is the ideal time to try and have such a chat? That I don’t know. But, just to be safe side, I’d wait until after the new year, if I were you.
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