Why It Pays to Keep the Job Search Going During the Holiday Season

Conventional wisdom might suggest to pause your job search during the holiday season. After all, bosses and employees are less focused on business and hiring during this time, right? Actually the contrary is true: December is a great time to reach out to employers…and it might actually give you a leg up over the competition! Learn why it pays to keep job hunting over the holidays:

Fewer Job Seekers 

Since many job seekers take time off to celebrate the holidays (assuming employers aren’t looking), you’ll encounter less competition when applying for jobs. Employers continue interviewing through the end of the year, so it pays to send out applications. Even if an employer isn’t hiring, take the time to make an initial connection.

Be a Line-Jumper 

For many companies, their fiscal calendar works around the traditional calendar. That means a company’s budgets resets on January 1. If you send your application in now, you’ll be ahead of those who will pick up their job search mid-January.

By applying over the holiday season, you jump to the head of the line with employers who want to onboard their new employees at the start of the year. By applying in December (or November!) you’re ready to start working when the job opens.

Employers Need to Hire Quickly 

Employers report there is a shortage of applicants for open positions around the holidays. Companies that need to fill positions quickly are apt to move forward on qualified applicants who touched base at that time. And of course, employers like to hire at the end of the year to spend down the budget they have, in order to boost the budget next year.

Continuing your search – even ramping it up during the holidays can make all the difference to starting your new year as a new employee. You can do this!