Snow days slow everything down. Meetings get canceled, commutes disappear, and suddenly you have a little extra time on your hands. If you’re job searching, that unexpected pause can feel frustrating or it can be a low-pressure opportunity to make real progress.
Here are practical, manageable ways to keep your job search moving on a snow day.
Snow Day? Here’s How to Keep Your Job Search Moving (Without Feeling Overwhelmed)
Refresh Your Resume (Lightly)
This isn’t about a total overhaul. Focus on quick updates:
- Add recent responsibilities or accomplishments
- Tailor wording for the types of roles you’re targeting
- Check formatting so it’s clean and easy to skim
Spending 30 focused minutes can make a noticeable difference. Refer to our resume resource for more tips and a free resume download.
Polish Your Digital Presence
Most employers will look you up. A snow day is a great time to:
- Update your LinkedIn headline and summary
- Make sure your experience matches your resume
- Turn on (or review) “Open to Work” settings
- Google yourself and clean up anything outdated
Think of this as reputation management, not self-promotion.
Create a Short Target List
Instead of applying everywhere, identify:
- 5-10 local or regional companies you’d genuinely like to work for
- Their career pages
- Any roles or departments that fit your skills
Set up job alerts or bookmark their pages so you don’t have to constantly search later.
Check in With Local Staffing Agencies
Local agencies often know what’s coming before jobs are posted publicly. Touch base, update your availability, or ask what’s trending in your area. If their office is covered in snow, they’re most likely working remotely and available to help.
Agencies like Matern Staffing stay closely connected to local employers and can help match you with opportunities that align with your goals, not just your resume.
Organize Your Job Search System
If your applications live in emails, browser tabs, and sticky notes, today’s the day to simplify. Create a basic tracker to note:
- Where and when you applied
- Source of the application (career page, job board, LinkedIn, etc)
- Job titles and departments
- Contact names
- Follow-up dates
Staying organized helps you avoid missed opportunities and duplicate applications.
Do a Closet Check
A snow day is a great excuse to look through your professional wardrobe. Ask yourself:
- Do I have at least one interview-ready outfit?
- Are shoes, coats, and accessories in good shape?
- Is anything missing that I should budget for?
Knowing you’re prepared removes one more layer of job-search anxiety.
Line Up Your References
Don’t wait until the last minute to connect with your references. Use a snow day to:
- Decide who you’ll list as references
- Confirm their contact info
- Give them a heads-up that you’re actively searching
It’s a small step that signals professionalism.
Upskill, Just a Little
You don’t need a full certification to move forward. Choose one realistic action:
- Watch a short industry webinar
- Complete a quick LinkedIn Learning or YouTube tutorial
- Brush up on a tool or skill you see in job postings
1% better beats perfection.
Draft (or Refine) Follow-Up Templates
Your future self will be thankful for having templates ready. A snowy day is the perfect day to write or update:
- Thank-you emails after interviews
- Polite follow-up messages
- Networking outreach notes
Having these ready makes it easier to stay consistent and confident. Read our full interview blog post for tips on writing thank you and follow-up messages.
Check Local Workforce & Alumni Resources
Snow days are perfect for exploring underused tools and resources like:
- Alumni job boards or networking groups from your school
- Review upcoming local hiring events
- Virginia Works and Virginia Career Works for job listings, training, and career support
- Local chamber of commerce and professional studies programs to expand your connections and skills
These resources often connect you to opportunities close to home. Review our list of workforce development resources for programs local to the Greater Fredericksburg area.
Check in With Your Network
Reach out to a former coworker, classmate, or peer – not to ask for a job, but to ask how things are going. Conversations like these often:
- Spark unexpected leads
- Provide encouragement or perspective
- Help you feel less alone in the process
Snow days offer a simple, relatable topic to kick off conversations, which can count as networking and sometimes lead to unexpected opportunities.
Next Steps
A snow day doesn’t have to put your job search on ice. Even a few small actions can help you feel more prepared, more confident, and more in control.
And if you’re looking for a local partner who understands the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast job markets and takes a personal approach, Matern Staffing is always here to start a conversation. Sometimes the best next step is simply connecting.