Job hunting is the hardest job you will ever have.
Take a break from it and relax this holiday season. As workers start to take time off for Thanksgiving, permanent hiring tends to stop until the new year. Any resumes you send out to companies between now and then have a higher than usual chance of getting lost in a pile or simply discarded. Instead of spending the season stressing over job hunting, take a vacation from job applications. Spend time with your friends and family, and know that you're using your time wisely.
In early December, take a close look at your resume; and ask some friends to look over it for you and give you feedback. Then, once it's ready to send out, set it aside until January 3rd (most offices will have the 2nd off since New Year's Day is a Sunday). Make a short list of the places you'll apply and the people you'll contact. Come up with some new ideas, such as emailing former coworkers to ask about job openings at their companies. Then set all of it aside until January.
If you want to feel more productive, volunteer somewhere for a day or for the entire holiday season. Consider taking a community college class in the new year, or think about skills you'd like to build. But most importantly, relax and enjoy the holidays with loved ones.
Carissa Doshi is a business writer and the president of Gen Y Media Group. She gives career advice and blogs about her experiences on www.carissadoshi.com. You can also follow @CarissaDoshi on Twitter.