Job-hunting tips as holidays near

Looking for a new job? Don't take a holiday from your job search. During the Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's holiday season, many job seekers take a vacation from the job search -- bad move. Employers hire and interview throughout the year.

Two more tips:

• After obtaining job leads, find out the head of the department where you want to work and contact that person directly. To get a manager's name, call the company, but don't tell the operator the call is about a job because you'll be transferred to HR.

• When interviewing, limit your questions to what the job responsibilities will entail and cite examples of how you can fulfill those responsibilities better than other candidates. Avoid trying to steer the interview. Instead, anticipate the interviewers' questions, and be prepared with your best answer.