Every year, between the last slice of pumpkin pie and the first clink of New Year’s champagne, job seekers ask the same question: “Is a holiday job search effective? Or should I not even bother?”
I recently conducted a LinkedIn poll that shared definitively: no one’s quite sure if it’s smart to look for a job between late November and early January. You can’t get more split than 49% of respondents saying this is the best time to look for a job and 51% claiming it’s the worst. Talk about a stalemate!
The truth is somewhat nuanced. With the right strategy, looking for a new role is smart year round, regardless of the time. However, situations certainly can change based on the industry. But what I can say is that, in a market as tough as the one we’ve been dealing with in 2025, it’s better to maintain some kind of momentum because there’s no telling how long your search will last.
The Benefits of Continuing a Holiday Job Search
Lots of things happen between Thanksgiving and New Year, but does that really include hiring? Here are some reasons you may want to stay active with your search:
You’ll see less competition
No matter how you feel about holiday job searching, a chunk of people are going to take a pause during the holiday season. There are several reasons they may opt to stop their search, including travel plans, spending time with family, or believing that no one is hiring.
If you do continue your search, you’ll be up against a smaller pool, and you can absolutely stand out to employers. That means response rates can increase due to fewer applicants, and this is true even if the number of jobs posted drops.
Yes, Virginia, companies do hire during the holidays
Sure, there are companies that freeze hiring until the new calendar year begins. On the flip side, there are others that want to achieve those year-end goals, embracing the “use it or lose it” approach to their payroll budget.
Why might a company hire in November and December? It could be that they are:
- Backfilling roles before their budgets reset
- Hiring to avoid losing headcount
- Preparing for Q1 initiatives
- Securing leaders to onboard as soon as the calendar flips
Regardless of the reason, many companies leverage the year-end slow down to plan for the following year’s staffing needs. And that means they are still hiring.
There are loads of networking opportunities
Your holiday job search—just like your year-round job search—thrives not because of the number of applications you submit but the quality of the connections you make. This time of year, you can look at any chamber of commerce, networking group, or association and find some kind of holiday gathering. And those opportunities result in plentiful networking. Here’s the kicker: People want to reconnect at the end of the year. They’re feeling the warm fuzzies and are happy to chat.
A simple “happy holidays” greeting to a tepid connection on LinkedIn may well be better received this time of year than that typical cold outreach.
No matter how you choose to network, whether in person or online, your job-search results will be instantly magnified through your connections. People are the magic formula for getting hired in a crazy market. And if you missed it, I recently shared a blog about how important those weak connections are to your job search. Leverage them now.
Why a Holiday Job Search May Not Work Out
No matter how many pros I list, there will always be cons to continuing to look for a job during the winter holidays. Here are a few:
The market is brutal
It is an understatement to say that the past couple of years have been hard for job seekers. A quick glance through LinkedIn posts will highlight the challenges:
- Multiple applications sent with minimal results
- Competition in the thousands for one position
- No responses from recruiters and HR professionals
- Immediate rejections for no discernible reason
And the list goes on. People have been looking for months, and at least once a week, I see someone who’s in dire straits without a job.
Unfortunately, even an effective holiday job search will not immediately turn all previous efforts into wins. And that’s because this market is terrible. The results you’re seeing might have nothing to do with you, your marketing documents, or even your interviewing abilities—and that can be hard to accept.
Response times will slow down
Although we’re all feeling festive this time of year, many professionals have mentally checked out by the last week of November. Knowing that, companies may choose to pause interviews, offers, and even job posts. The lack of speed can feel like walking to school uphill, in the snow—both ways! Frustrations you felt back in September become even more so in December.
Postings may not be accurate
You’ve no doubt heard about “fake” job postings. While I won’t argue that those likely exist, that’s not what I mean here. What I mean is that companies may post the job now but don’t plan to take action until the first of January. That’s not to say you shouldn’t apply, but you may want to be prepared to wait a bit longer than usual to hear back.
Is a Holiday Job Search Worthwhile?
Last year, I had clients interviewing throughout December, some even meeting with recruiters between Christmas and New Year. Yes, you can find a great role—and receive an offer—during the holidays. But you need to continue to be smart and strategic. If you started your job search earlier in the year, don’t take your foot off the gas now. Stay available and connected. And if you’re new to the party, focus on quality connections. Apply, mix and mingle, and be in touch. That will help you stay top of mind as we roll into 2026.
How to Make the Most of Your Holiday Job Search
Warm networking thrives during the holidays. If you’re not seeing as many job postings, shift gears to do more in-person or Zoom meetings. Yes, you can also use LinkedIn, but holiday gatherings provide the ideal forum for making connections.
- Contact your area chambers of commerce about holiday events.
- Visit area BNI meetings. Reach out to the chapter to see if anyone needs a substitute, which will allow you to visit for free and represent a current member.
- Go to association and industry websites to look for their holiday gatherings, which could be in person or on Zoom.
- Contact your college alma mater and see if their local alumni association is hosting any get-togethers.
If one-on-ones are more up your alley, reach out to your connections to let them know you’re thinking of them and wish them happy holidays. Ask them if they’re free for coffee or a call now or if January would work better for their schedule.
Even Non-Work Events Can Deliver Results
The other kind of networking events you’ll find during the holiday season are gatherings with family and friends. Those evenings or weekends when you’re not at a bona fide networking event, you will likely be at some other event. Most families have very full calendars in December, for instance.
At each event, you’ll have the opportunity to interact and share what’s new with you. Don’t assume that everyone knows. When they ask (and they will), share that you’re in the middle of a job search, what position you’re looking for, and what industry you’re targeting. We often don’t realize that a person we know casually may have the exact person we need in their database and can facilitate an introduction.
Success Comes from Positioning
A holiday job search is effective when you run it effectively. That means you might move away from applying and more to connecting. Yes, you’ll continue to apply, but this time of year is naturally built for relationships. Turn every conversation into an opportunity—to help others and allow them to help you. Remember that this is a two-way street, and while you want to land interviews and a job offer, you may just have something that you can offer to the people with whom you’re connecting. When you give first, you’ll always get in return, whether from that person or someone else. Plus, this time of year, it feels great to give and help others.
Need help navigating the job-search process? There’s a reason I named my company Your Career Advocate: I’m here to guide and support you from initial application through salary negotiation. Learn more about how I can help.