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Two weeks ago, employment counselor Gaye Lindfors asked a workshop participant to tell her story. The unemployed woman folded her arms, shook her head, and burst into tears. "I don't know how," the woman responded.

Not having that 30-second commercial at the ready is one of many mistakes the frightened jobless make during the holidays. They shut down, flub or skip interviews, self-sabotage with unreasonable demands or simply fail to seize the last 45 days of the year. Yet, it's the prime time to network and perfect that 30-second elevator speech, said Lindfors and other job placement experts who want the jobless to rethink their holiday game plan.

While 100,000 Minnesotans lost jobs in the past year, many will take a hiatus from interview preparation and job searching and focus instead on holiday turkeys, cookies, pumpkins and tinsel. They'll be blowing it, said Lindfors, CEO of the strategic planning firm Significant Solutions and author of the book "Find a Job: The Little Book For Big Success."

"People assume they should give up their job hunt in November and December because companies are not hiring. That's not true," Lindfors said. "Companies are hiring. And November and December offer great networking opportunities. People who are still out there looking have a greater opportunity to stand out."

So be ready and avoid easy blunders, said Rob Braaten, coordinator for Adecco Employment Services in Edina. Two weeks ago, a woman walked into Adecco and told Wegscheid that she was interested in a health care data analyst job he was trying to fill. But under no circumstances would she sacrifice her Christmas vacation, Braaten said the woman told him.

"She flat out let me know that was her schedule and she wasn't gong to change it. Well, someone else got the job," he said. "I have noticed that quite a bit lately and it's been really odd. We have had people interview and say 'I always have six or seven days off during this time.' And we say, 'Well, we have seven others who are willing to work through this time.' ... And it's only a 90-day contract."

Adecco wears two hats: One as job counselors, the other as employer surrogate, interviewing and hiring workers for contracted employers. As a result, Braaten sees all kinds of goofs. He frequently has to explain to applicants that they need to be more flexible and prepared, and do a better job of tracking jobs for which they have applied.

"There are multiple examples of me reaching out to them and them not knowing what I am talking about, because they have spread themselves so wide and applied for everything they possibly can," he said. "If I call you back [after an interview] and you have no idea what I am talking about, then it's certainly hard for me to move forward with you."

Linda Reber, branch manager for Manpower Staffing in Plymouth, sees job applicants making big mistakes every holiday. Recently, one job applicant applied for a top retail job but insisted she couldn't work Black Friday. Another couldn't work weekends.

"So what's the point?" Reber asked. "It goes back to, 'If you can't work, someone else will.'"

Others interviewed at the temp agency but didn't treat it like a real job interview.

"They were not well-groomed, were casually dressed and their résumé wasn't really put together. That's a serious flub," Reber said.

In yet another interview, one manufacturing job candidate kept bashing his former employers. Reber had to tell him that no one wanted to hear it. "Look, it's going to be a challenging holiday season for a lot of folks out there. So you know what? Spread some cheer, make them feel happy," she said.

To avoid pitfalls, Lindfors counsels job seekers to go into overdrive during the holidays. Her 12 days of Christmas "shopping list" suggests folks update résumés and review them with professionals recruiters. They'll offer different tips than friends. Last week, Mounds View architect Scott Anderson showed Lindfors his résumé. Friends had given it the stamp of approval, she said, but Lindfors noticed that it listed job descriptions rather than accomplishments.

"This was a real eye-opener," said Anderson, who has been out of work for a year. In his old job, he regularly bid on jobs and would specify what his firm could do for a client. And yet, he forgot to be specific on his own résumé, Anderson said.

This week, despite having Minnesota newcomers over for Thanksgiving dinner, Anderson committed to begin rewriting his résumé. And he'll use the rest of the holidays to improve upon another tip Lindfors offered.

During her workshop two weeks ago, Lindfors told Anderson and others to memorize and practice their 30-second biography speech, so they can easily talk about themselves when they unwittingly bump into that next employer at an elevator, grocery store or gas station. That way they don't end up "stammering and stuttering," she said.

Anderson, 46, plans to do one better. On Wednesday, he combed through boxes from his old office, studied former projects and jotted down his best career anecdotes. His stories, about his very best decision, worst mistake and defining "ah-ha" moments, will be kept with his portfolio case for easy reference.

"Companies always ask variations of questions about these themes. It's best to be prepared," Anderson said. "When you write them down, you have talking points for phone interviews or any interviews. It just helps instead of being asked a question and saying 'Duh!'"

Lindfors, who runs job search workshops each week for churches, small businesses and the outplacement service firm BluePrint, applauded the idea. Keep that job search fresh during the holidays. "You can still network and schedule now so you can execute your plan. Those who have taken a break will not be executing a plan in January."

First on her "holiday list" is to leave the depression at home and attend your spouse's holiday office parties. "Go with the idea that you will meet and help at least one person while there," she said. Helpers don't smell of desperation.

Her other tips include:

• Use the last 40 days of the year to send out "gratitude cards that thank people for supporting you during your period of transition. Make the notes about them, not you."

• Ask employers for informational interviews during the slow month of December. That's a tool that can help when hiring budgets get reset Jan. 1.

• Assemble your list of referrals and ask them to post their comments about you on LinkedIn.com.

• Join a support group. Check out minnesotajobs.com to find groups by profession, town, religion, hobby and other affiliations.

• Volunteer in your industry. It's another way to bump into future employers or referrals.

• Dive into social networking sites such as LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter; and hit blogs or websites for the unemployed such as www.MinnesotaUnemployed.com, Paul DeBettignies' www.mnheadhunter.com, and Lindfors's own site, www.SignificantSolutions .com.

• Schedule January now. Nail down dates for computer classes, volunteering, workshops and coffee dates with key reference people.

"Stay visible. Stay connected. Stay engaged," Lindfors said. "Your job search is not just about sitting in front of the computer and staring at Monster.com and eating chocolate all day."

Dee DePass • 612-673-7725

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Don't take a holiday from job hunt, experts warn