Why December is ‘The most wonderful time of the year’ to look for a job…..

December is a month often marked by a feeling of winding down and along with Christmas parties and associated hangovers, it is easy to assume that this isn't the best time of year to look for a new job. It’s therefore very common, at this time of year that candidates will put their search for a new job on hold.

There is an assumption that employers will not be looking for new staff at this time of the year.

However, Palmer McCarthy has just had its busiest start to December ever and we have noted some reasons below why it’s not time to down your job hunt tools but take advantage of the opportunities the festive season brings. Companies are still looking for new talent over the Christmas period and you could be missing out if you stop your search!

1. There are a lot of jobs out there…

Many employers have anticipated their needs for 2019 and, with their budgets set, they've already begun the search for candidates, so they can hit the ground running in the New Year: or at least have confirmed new hires starting in January

Now more than ever ‘time to hire’ is a metric that is commonly being used to measure a hiring managers success so, if there is a job opening, put plain & simple, that job needs to be filled sooner rather than later.

There also tend to be a lot of vacancies this time of year as employers are keener to let any leavers go without the standard 4 weeks’ notice, so they are not paying them all those Bank Holidays and across the perceived downtime (what used to be called Solitaire days) around Christmas. (flipping this on its heard- if you do find your ideal next role- its likely you will not be kept to your full 4 weeks’ notice)
 

2. There’s less competition…

With other candidates taking a break from their job search, it's easier to stand out from the crowd and get ahead of the game by January, when the rest of the talent pool are just adding “must get new job” to their list of resolutions.

Start dates can be negotiable. Two weeks is typical if you are giving notice to your current employer. You may be able to extend that out to a later date, especially if there are Christmas holidays when the business is closed. That would give you a bit of extra time to move a start date back.

3. There are more networking opportunities…

You couldn’t pick a better time of year for networking. The festive period is filled with works parties & various events all of which make it a perfect time of the year to dust off your tuxedo, slip on your dancing shoes & get out there & network. Whether it is a holiday party thrown by family & friends or a business function hosted by a professional organisation, there are plenty of opportunities to let others know that you are in the market for a new job.

4. You and the hiring Managers and HR have more time...

December can give you the gift of time when it comes to looking for a new job. General workloads tend to ease off which means you have more time to think about which direction you want your career to go in. Take some time to refresh your CV, have a look on job boards and get the ball rolling. Starting a job hunt is never easy, but it’s a darn sight easier to do when you have fewer distractions at work.

If you have a few days holiday there will be no need to make excuses to get out on interview and if you are working Its also far easier to nip out of the office to attend an interview especially if your company are working reduced hours:

For the same reasons this means that employers may have more time to take a look at your application and arrange an immediate interview.

Again, for the same reasons, it’s more likely that your offer and contract will be processed quickly allowing you to hand in your notice.
 

5. You already have something in common with the hiring manager

There is a sense of camaraderie between those who are working at the same pace whilst the world seems to be slowing down around them. The offices you are visiting for interview will be a bit more relaxed which gives you a fantastic opportunity to get to know the hiring manager better than you would any other time of the year.

Lets face it, they have got to be impressed with your work ethic already (it matches theirs) so you are already ahead of the game just by being there.

So, lets make it a December resolution to be in a new job by the end of January, dust off that CV, visit the Palmer McCarthy website and give us a call if anything takes your fancy.