we're looking at a recce trip to canada in december, perhaps from 12-30 december and will be visiting mostly calgary & vancouver areas, with a bit of snowboarding thrown in!

thing is, we're worried that hubby will have a problem arranging appointments with companies as it is the xmas season and we have no idea if companies close during this time or if people tend to be away on hols, which will make it more difficult for us.

is this a really bad time to go?

we don't have that much flexibilty which is why december seems the best option.

any feedback?

I'd say as long as the networking was done during the early stages of your recce then you *should* be fine.

Plus if you don't have any other option of dates then just make the most of what you have.

I don't think many North American companies shut down at Christmas like so many do in the UK. You'd certainly have a few problems if you were arriving today.

Unoffoicially the week before xmas isnt a good time to be looking at Networking and arranging interviews etc - I know at this time I personally am trying to get my desk cleared etc to enjoy the holiday time so I try and put off any of that kind stuff until after 1st January

why? what's happening today?

mmm that's what i thought.

we'll have to see if we can do january, otherwise this will be scouting & hols without networking & then hubby will just have to go again on his own next year to network. sounds like a great plan to me :0)

It is possible that some peoples work ethics are a bit better than mine though so I wouldnt give up on the idea of trying - Just dont get too downbeat if the OH finds like people dont want to meet him right at that time or try to put him off until later

Both my work and OH's work are shut down between Christmas and New Year- so it could be tough.

But you arrive on the 12th December so you have at least a week to do the networking before i dare say most people will be shutting shop for the xmas period.

Just make some appointments before you leave the UK so you're prepared, if possible.

Right Being a nosey git I'm wondering whats hapening today to???

Friday before the long Thanksgiving weekend Everyones eyes are just on the clock to see if its beer time yet

true, we'll have that week and will make the most of it, but it means that we will only be able to network in one of the locations :0( as we were planning to conquer calgary one week and vancouver the other week, we just haven't decided which to do when yet

i suppose we could hop between the two..

aaah that's what i suspected! well happy beer drinking then!

Thanksgiving weekend, innit? Many people will be quitting real early today. Monday is a public holiday and a lot of folk won't be at work on Tuesday.

It's like trying to get meetings in Detroit in early July. You can't. The auto industry simply shuts down for a week. As I once discovered, to my annoyance.

If you can wait January would be much better, both for networking and snowboarding!

Early december would be okay for networking, but come mid month everyones just trying to finish stuff off so they can get away for the holidays.

Snow wise Dec is hit or miss, January's far more reliable....