Thinking of Pausing Your Job Search Until January? Recruiters Say That Could Be a Mistake

Experts say the end of the year brings leftover budgets, fresh vacancies, and fewer rivals for open roles. Here's why sending out applications between festive gatherings could pay off.

As the holiday season approaches, many people are either gearing up for a long-awaited break or bracing themselves for the retail chaos of last-minute Black Friday and Christmas shoppers. But for some, this time of year comes with the uncertainty of searching for a first or new job.

Though it may be tempting to put your job search on hold during the holidays, one career coach believes December could be the ideal time to land a new role.

"You do not want to be putting a pause on your job search through the month of December," career coach and author Michelle Schafer said. "The main reason for that is because this season has so many opportunities to be able to reach out and talk to people."

The belief that nobody hires in December is widespread, as is the misguided advice that "you might as well take the month off." It may seem counterintuitive, but the opposite is true, and for several reasons.

Many companies need to spend the money left in their budgets before the end of the year. In fact, hiring often ramps up in December as managers race to meet deadlines for using those funds.

Recruiters are also often eager to wrap up unfinished business before the year ends. If there are unfilled positions on their teams, hiring managers naturally want to fill them.

Another reason not to pause your job search during the holiday season is that positions often open up in late November or early December, since many professionals choose to quit their jobs around this time.

Employees who have been looking to leave a company will often time their resignations so they can start a new role right after the new year. There's another perk, too: less competition.

With fewer applicants in the running during the holiday period, applying for jobs at the end of the year could be your key to standing out.

Keep in mind that while many people take time off in December, not all recruiters are on vacation. By sending an application this month, you could find yourself at the top of a recruiter's inbox.

"You can actually be one of the individuals who's being seen, who's being chatted with, because everyone else really is in that state of thinking that things have shut down," said Jasmine Escalera, a Career and Confidence Coach for Women of Color based in Miami.

Marina Field, a career coach based in New York City, notes that recruitment activity varies depending on the industry you're targeting. She advises studying market trends first and then deciding on your next move.

Another tip the experts swear by is tapping into your network. "What I find this time of year is that people tend to have more time on their hands. So, reaching out and having those coffee chats, those informational interviews, people are oftentimes more willing to do that," Schafer said.

"This is really the perfect time when you're catching up with someone [to say], 'Hey, I'm looking for a position. Do you know of anything?' Or letting people know, 'I'm interested in knowing more about this particular organization. Do you know anyone who's worked here?'" she said.

By casually bringing up your job search in laid-back social settings, you can make networking feel far more organic, "so it doesn't feel like this one-way transactional type of thing," Field said.

So, before you shelve your résumé until January, consider giving your job search a festive boost instead.

With budgets to spend, roles to fill, and fewer candidates competing for attention, December could be the month your next big career move falls into place, whether it comes from a well-timed application or a casual chat over holiday drinks. In the meantime, find out how you can improve your LinkedIn profile.