Most job-seekers claim that November and December are lousy months to look, so they use that as a reason to take a break from hunting.

But an article at forbes.com — Use the holidays to find a job — says job-hunters who keep at it are actually more likely to find a job over the holidays. Among the reasons: There’s less competition, the season puts people in a receptive mood, and all those parties and family gatherings overflow with networking opportunities.

Career coach Catherine Jewell notes that the best job leads come from other professionals. They are your entry point to the secret job market, which is only available through contact with people.  Out of the 120 people Jewell has coached this year, she says, 115 got their jobs via information they found through family, friends or business associates. “That’s where the leads are,” she says, “in people’s heads.”