Three Ways to Use the Holidays to Boost Your Entertainment Career

The holiday season is a great time for career growth. Even though it’s not the best time to bring up new business or pitch projects, some of the best networking opportunities occur this month, and it’s also a good time for you to refocus. Here are three ways you can take advantage of the holiday season.

1. Get social. The holiday season is filled with end of year parties and mixers, and if you have the time and energy, try to attend at least a few. This applies whether you are or aren’t employed, because these events are generally not about talking shop and more about socializing. If you’ve been out of work for a long time and feel anxious talking about it, focus on whatever side projects or learnings you’ve had this year, and then steer the conversation toward more memorable personal topics so you can engage with people in a more friend-oriented tone. And just like you can chat with industry people about regular life, remember that while industry events will be the most obvious places you'll make career connections, your "network" can be personal contacts, too. You never know who might make the intro that lands you the next job: the parents at your kids' school, your co-volunteer at the holiday soup kitchen, your friend's new boyfriend who just got a job at BIG COMPANY. Use this time of year to make a new friend or solidify an existing relationship.

2. Send holiday check in notes. If you haven’t already, this is the week to start sending those nice end-of-year outreach emails to remind people that you exist and share updates about your life and career. If you’re behind on this, don't worry  -- you can send emails in the first couple of weeks of 2026 that will be equally as effective. These emails go a long way in terms of a low-effort strategy to maintain your existing network.

3. Rest and recharge. 2025 has been a stressful year, and 2026 looks like it might be a rollercoaster. It’s possible you’ve been faced with a layoff, an extended period of time out-of-work, or uncertainty around a changing industry. Especially in the last two weeks of the year, there’s not a lot of progress you will make with your job search or career exploration. If you have a bit of free time to dig into some research, great! But it not, also great! Spend time with family, take a little break from the Hollywood of it all, and relax.