10 Easy Ways to Find a Job During Winter Break

Dec. 15, 2008— -- Welcome to late December. 'Tis the season for celebrating the end of finals, catching up with hometown friends and family, exchanging gifts and good cheer and -- gulp -- dreading the question: "So, have you found a job yet?"

Whether you're looking for an internship or a full-time first job, the holiday break marks the unofficial start of job hunting season. (Or, if you're graduating in December, it's absolutely official.)

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Of course, the bad news this season is that you're facing the toughest job market in recent history. The good news is that there are always opportunities, especially for entry-level positions. But you have to act fast, and you have to act smart. Here are some tips for what to do over the next few crucial weeks to land a great job or internship.

Make this a working holiday.

I know you're on vacation, but this year's job seekers don't have a minute to waste. Starting today, commit to doing three to five things a day on behalf of your job hunt. That includes researching companies, setting up informational interviews, sending out resumes, reading career advice articles, attending networking events and more. Daily commitment is important for momentum, and it also makes a huge difference in the sheer number of opportunities you'll be exposed to.

Have a plan B, C, D and beyond.

If you've been focusing all of your efforts on one industry or type of employer, it's time to broaden your horizons. In a bad economy, it's important to think as broadly as possible about the kind of industries and organizations where you might be able to apply your skills. This means considering small companies, medium-size companies, large corporations, startups, nonprofits, government jobs, overseas jobs, service years, temp jobs, contract positions, freelance gigs and anything else you discover. In between Christmas caroling or dreidel spinning, spend some time exploring such career information Web sites as Vault, Career Voyages and WetFeet.