These proven networking tactics could help you land your dream job by New Year’s Day.

The common perception that companies don’t interview or hire in December is untrue, as we pointed out in Holiday Hiring Freeze: Myth or Reality? Businesses have set their budgets for 2016 in the fall of 2015, and they are now working to fill openings that will start in January.

Job candidates who believe in a holiday hiring freeze miss out on the very opportunities that this myth creates. As your competition gets lazy, it’s time to move against the herd and get more active by talking to people, rather than just applying for positions. Try these networking tactics, and if you don’t land a new job by January 1, you will at least have a leg up on your competition going into 2016.

• Connect with “connectors.” These are the people who know the decision makers and hiring managers at the companies where you want to work. Your Imprimis recruiter is a connector, and so are key employees in the company you are targeting. Use Imprimis and LinkedIn to research professionals and expand your network with people that can lead you to hiring managers. You can also leverage friends and colleagues you know to see who has contacts at the companies you are targeting.

• Reach out strategically to contacts you know. Whether you choose to contact them with a holiday card or an email, give your communication a personal touch. Describe (in three short sentences) what you have accomplished since your last contact. Include highlights that match the qualifications for the position you want, which can include new certifications, education, awards, or volunteer work.

• Establish a rapport with contacts you don’t know. Talk to your Imprimis agent about the companies you are targeting. When you do get in touch with the right connectors within these organizations, approach them with a helpful attitude. Research what they are doing so you can focus your communication on their needs before you begin to address yours. Give the impression of a confident expert and a potential asset to their organization, rather than a hungry job seeker.

• Create dossiers for important contacts. Dossiers are collections of vital information about the people you want to meet. Knowing what’s important to them can help you establish a rapport and address their hiring needs. A dossier might include degrees earned, affiliations with professional organizations, articles they’ve written or been mentioned in, causes they support, and even hobbies they enjoy. It can also give you a reason to call a connector and ask to speak directly with them (e.g. “I just read about <issue> and I would like to propose a solution that may work for her.”

The holidays are a great time to reflect on what you have to offer as a person and as a professional. Inward reflection will enhance your sense of accomplishment and your confidence, creating a more ideal frame of mind for successful networking—this holiday season and beyond.

Post written by: Alan Margulis