Food, Friends, and...FUN.

Out of Work? Hit the Party Circuit but Bring Tact
CNN.com - December 6, 2010 2:37 p.m. EST

All I want for Xmas is a job!

According to Consumer Reports, you'll spend an average of 15 hours at holiday gatherings this year. That means plenty of opportunities for networking for a job. The trick is to do it tactfully or don't do it at all.

If you are out of work, you'd be crazy to skip the holiday party scene. You might not feel like going, but put on a tartan plaid tie or a little black dress and get out the door.

Amen to plaid! But who said anything about tact. I don't own that. Neither does Corporate America. The Office is having a real tactful Holiday Party this Friday at the hotel ballroom next door, and we are getting discounted room rates.

Why hell would you want a job around Christmas? So that you can spend the best time of the year with people you pretend to like, and then buy a really expensive gift for your boss that you can't afford? HR wants Toys for Tots, your manager wants $5 for the boss's gift, and Marketing says you can come to the Holiday Brunch only if you pay up. Of course I wanna be on payroll!

With a 9.6% unemployment rate, seems the odds are against you anyways. Just keep banking the UE checks.

Maybe you don't have health insurance and maybe you're rationing oatmeal. Let's face it. The only thing in life that's free is friendship. Maybe you can find a few...benefits in that. Like saving on heat, or some help digging the car out.

Networking indeed. Sounds more like it. This is prime merry-making time.

Twenty-somethings, salud!