I’ve written versions of this post a few times over the years, and while so many aspects of job searching change, this never really does.
December is a great month for job seekers.
Yes yes, The Great Resignation is upon us, and I can assure you from a recruiter’s perspective it is very, very real. But most of the candidates who are considering a resignation are, at this point, waiting for 2022. That means you have about two weeks to get ahead of the pack.
Why now?
Competition is lower
In a few weeks some jobs will be flooded with hundreds of applications a day. But right now that pace has slowed to a small trickle. You have a much better chance of standing out now then you will in a few weeks when all of the new year’s resolution job searches have begun in earnest. This is especially important if you’re trying to change fields or move to a more senior role. In a few weeks recruiters will be screening as quickly as possible to get through as many resumes as they can as quickly as they can. That means focusing on the resumes that fit exactly with the position parameters. But right now a resume that stands out for other reasons has a better chance of getting us to take a second look.
End of year budget rush
At some companies there IS a difference between offers that go out in December and offers that go out in January. For companies with fiscal years ending December 31st they can be in a use it or lose it position with specific salary allocations, so they’re very motivated to make a quick hire before year ends.
Procrastination is real
I’ve seen it almost everywhere I’ve worked, a job lurks on the backburner for months, and suddenly at the end of the year, for no reason other than the year ending, it’s suddenly urgent. Maybe it’s just a sense of wanting to clear up loose ends before the year ends, or recruiters with a sudden bit of free time, but for whatever reasons jobs that have taken lower priority can find new urgency as the clock ticks toward midnight.
Things are a bit more relaxed
Think back to the time before Covid when we were all in the office between December 15th and 31st. People come in a bit later, dress codes relax a touch, there are extended coffee breaks and long lunches, lots of catching up and chatting about holiday plans. That sense of relaxation extends to interviewing. If you know you’re someone who struggles with the pressure and formality of an interview situation you can really benefit by interviewing during the holiday lull. For one it’s easier to find things to make small talk about. Are you traveling? Looking forward to some time off? Just excited 2021 is almost over? Interviewers are also less heavily scheduled. We’ve all been in that interview with a manager who has four meetings right after this one. They’re looking at the clock, keeping an eye on their email, and ready to dash the moment your 30 minutes are up. Right now schedules aren’t so tightly packed and interviewers are a bit more relaxed too.
Schedules are more flexible
As a manager you tend to be skeptical of too much time out of office, especially when many people are still working from home. But this time of year it doesn’t raise so many eyebrows. There are errands to run, travel days, pies to bake, gifts to wrap, and countless other tasks that could take you away for a few hours during the work day. Not to mention lots of companies require you to use your PTO before the end of the year anyway. If you’re not fully committed to leaving your current role and don’t want to raise too many red flags, this is the best time of year to schedule a little bit of extra time out of office to interview, research opportunities, or just spend some time revamping your resume to get ready for 2022.