Year's End Can Be Job-Hunting Season

Could it be that Christmas is a good time to search for a job?

That's what Lee Hecht Harrison, an outplacement and career services firm, says.

"During the holidays, competition is reduced and most organizations have developed their budgets for the coming year and can predict their hiring needs and goals," says Leonard Posey, senior vice president and general manager of Harrison's Parsippany, N.J., office.

If you do manage to get an interview between all the vacations and merrymaking during the holiday season, are you prepared? Recently I chatted online with Doug Hardy and Jeff Taylor, the authors of the Color of Money Book Club selection for December, "Monster Careers: Interviewing." For a transcript of the chat go to http://www.washingtonpost.com .

Based on the questions coming into the chat, many people clearly aren't sure what to say or do during and after interviewing for a job. Time ran out during the discussion, but both Hardy and Taylor agreed to answer more questions. Their responses may help you.

Q Interviewers always like to ask what your weaknesses are. How honest should you be when asked that question?

A Hardy and Taylor agree that you should always be honest. "Although candidates typically try to spin a weakness into strength by saying, 'I'm a perfectionist' or 'I overwork,' employers have heard these ploys a thousand times. Instead, identify your weakest point in the job's noncritical qualities, and outline your plan for overcoming it."

My husband and I are moving to another state. We will have to take temporary jobs. How bad will our rsums look if we moved halfway across the country and worked at Lowe's while interviewing for a job that is a better fit for our skills and education?

This comes down to the way you tell your story, Hardy said. "I've met many employers who admire candidates that did everything, including temporary work, to wind up with the ideal job." In your cover letter or e-mail, tell the truth. "If you sound like you're in control of your career, that says good things about you."

I have an interview for a position and the pool has been narrowed down to myself and one other person. How do you approach a salary discussion when you know there is another qualified candidate being considered?

It's all about you, say Taylor and Hardy. Act as if you were the only candidate. "Throughout the discussion focus not only on a number but on what the employer will get when they hire you. They will compare the total package of your skills, experience and character, not just the price."