'Tis the season...

Christmas: It's the season when your social and work calendars collide in a frenzy of festive parties.

For some this time of year comes around all too fast and it can be very tempting to bury your head in the snow and wait until it's all over. For others it's a chance to let their hair down and take advantage of some of the free hospitality on offer.

Whichever way you look at it don't forget that these seasonal knees' ups are also fantastic networking opportunities. They can provide you with the chance to create a Quality Street-style assortment of useful contacts to be called upon in the new year and beyond.

So before you start making your excuses think again about how a small amount of effort now could make a big difference to your future career.

The yuletide season is a veritable jackpot...