If all you want for Christmas is a job, don’t let the holiday fanfare slow down your search.
Recruiters and hiring managers say a common misconception is that employers pause interviewing at the end of the year because decision-makers are all on vacation. In reality, they say hiring activity tends to hold steady, and in some cases, managers are pressed to fill openings before their talent-acquisition budgets reset in January.
They need to “use it or lose it,” said Nicole Fernandez-Valle, lead talent acquisition partner at Miami-based Royal Caribbean Group. “This is still a pretty hardworking time for our recruitment teams.”
Brian Fink, an independent recruiter in Georgia, said he’s helping an AI startup in Atlanta find two managers and six software engineers to bring on board before 2025 comes to a close.
“Employers want to start 2026 ready,” said Fink. “They don’t want to start recruiting in January. They want to start running a race.”
Lighter competition
While other job seekers put their searches on hold, take advantage of the lighter competition to submit applications, said Aaron Roberts, a hiring manager at commercial real-estate company JLL. He has more than 50 openings he’s looking to fill in California, including ones for administrative assistants, facilities managers, and producers. He anticipates filling at least a third by New Year’s.
“You might miss an opportunity if you put your job hunt on hold,” he said. “Keep going.”
Roberts knows from personal experience. He applied for his current position as vice president of operations at JLL just before Thanksgiving in 2019 and did several rounds of interviews in December that year. The last one took place five days before Christmas.
Seize the holiday spirit
Since people tend to be jollier around the holidays, it’s a good time to reach out to folks who could potentially help with your job search, said Julia Levy, an independent talent-acquisition executive in Memphis and author of “From Hi to Hired: Your Insider Guide to Internships.” They’ll be more likely to take your call, she said.
By contrast, if you hold off networking until January, your odds of getting a meaningful response — or any at all — will be slimmer since this is when people tend to be busy starting new projects, Levy said.
Competition for jobs will also likely intensify in January, she added. People who put off their searches for the holidays return, and those resolving to find a new job in the new year enter the market, Levy said.
Yes, this is tough
Job hunting during the winter holidays can be more mentally challenging than at any other time of year. Your family and friends may be shopping for gifts, decorating the house, and baking sweet treats, while you’re still at a computer searching for newly posted job listings.
And if you’re a parent, your kids are likely off from school and may be eager for your attention.
“It’s so hard,” said Helene Vo, a career strategist in Los Angeles. “You’re almost going against the grain of what the holidays are about.”
But this is also why competition for jobs dies down — and why it can pay off to stick with your search routine. When you’re used to applying to five or six jobs a day, “it’s much easier to override” all of the holiday hoopla around you, Vo said.
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