It sounds reasonable. People take time off, offices slow down, and everyone seems to be waiting for the new year. So a lot of job seekers press pause from November until January.
The problem is that the hiring doesn't pause with them. Here is what I see from the recruiting side every year, and how to use it to your advantage.
1. Less competition, same openings
Many job seekers step back from their search at the end of the year. The roles don't disappear. Hiring managers who have budget to spend before December 31 still need to fill their seats, and they are often working with a smaller, less crowded pool of applicants.
That means your application has a better chance of being read closely instead of getting lost in a pile. If you keep going while others stop, you stand out simply by showing up.
2. Decision makers have more time
Year-end planning means leaders are thinking about next year's team right now. They are mapping out goals, budgets and the people they will need to hit them.
A thoughtful note to a hiring manager during this season can land better than the same message in a crowded January inbox, when everyone is back from break and catching up on hundreds of emails.
3. Use the holidays to reconnect, not to pitch
End-of-year messages are the easiest outreach you will send all year. People expect to hear from their network around the holidays, so a short note feels natural instead of salesy.
Try this: "I've enjoyed following your team's work this year. I'm exploring my next move in [field] and would love 15 minutes in the new year to hear what you're seeing."
Short, warm and no pressure. You are not asking for a job. You are opening a door, and many of those conversations turn into referrals once the new year starts.
4. Get your materials ready now
If your resume and LinkedIn still describe the job you had two years ago, fix that before the January rush. Updated materials mean you can respond the same day a great role posts, instead of spending a week rewriting your resume while someone else gets the interview.
- Refresh your resume with your most recent results and measurable wins.
- Update your LinkedIn headline so it matches the roles you want next.
- Make sure your About section and experience tell the same story as your resume.
Your 15-minute action
Make a list of five people you have lost touch with in your field and send each one a short year-end note. That's it. Fifteen minutes now can put you on someone's mind right when they start hiring in January.
The people who land great roles in the first quarter are usually the ones who kept moving in the fourth.