November, December: Key Months for Job Hunting

November and December are the best of job hunting times.

That's because you encounter lots of people outside your industry, ranging from family and friends to Joe in the deli you give a few bucks to tor the holidays, and Emily, the neighbor who works at a local corporation. Those outside your usual circle of professional contacts are what network experts call weak ties. Decades ago, "six degrees of separation" researcher Mark Granovetter found that the lion's share of jobs came through those casual acquaintances.