Is It Worth Job Hunting in December? Why You Should Keep Applying

Is It Worth Job Hunting in December? Why You Should Keep Applying

It's tempting to pause your job search in December. Managers are on holiday, offices feel quiet and everyone seems focused on the end of the year. Many job seekers decide to "start fresh in January".

That's exactly why December can be a good month to keep going.

Do companies hire in December?

Yes. Hiring often slows down in the last weeks of the year, but it rarely stops. Some companies want to fill roles before budgets reset. Others are planning January start dates and interviewing now. Recruiters still have targets to meet.

Hiring patterns differ by country, industry and company, so treat December as a slower month, not a closed one.

Why December can work in your favour

Less competition

When many candidates pause, the ones who keep applying stand out more. Your application may get more attention than it would in a busy month.

Hiring for January starts

Roles approved for the new year often get posted or interviewed for in December, so the teams can start the year at full strength.

Year-end budgets

Some teams have budget they need to use before the year ends, which can lead to quick hiring decisions.

More relaxed conversations

Networking events and holiday gatherings make it easier to reconnect with people. A friendly message to an old colleague can feel natural this time of year.

What to expect

• Slower replies. People take holidays, so give more time before you follow up.
• Delayed interviews. Some processes pause between Christmas and New Year.
• Fewer new postings in the last two weeks. Apply early in the month where you can.

Plan for this and you won't take a slow week personally.

A simple December job search plan

1. First two weeks: apply. Focus on roles posted recently and send tailored applications. Our guide on how to tailor your resume to a job description can help.
2. Mid-December: follow up. Check in on applications from November before people leave for the holidays. Use our follow-up email templates.
3. Holiday weeks: prepare. Update your resume, improve your LinkedIn headline, practise interview answers and research target companies.
4. Last days of the year: plan January. List the companies and roles you'll apply to in the first week of January.

Use quiet weeks to get ahead

If applications feel slow, spend time on things that will pay off later:

• Clean up your resume and fix common ATS resume mistakes.
• Write a stronger LinkedIn headline. See our LinkedIn headline formulas.
• Prepare your answer to "Tell me about yourself".
• Reach out to three people in your network each week.

Keep everything organized

December applications often lead to January interviews. With slower replies and holiday gaps, it's easy to lose track of who you spoke to and when to follow up. The JobStacky Job Application Tracker keeps every application, status and follow-up date in one place, so you can pick up right where you left off in January.

Frequently asked questions

Should I apply for jobs between Christmas and New Year?

You can, especially for roles that were posted recently. Just expect replies to come in January.

Is it rude to follow up in December?

No. Keep it short and friendly, and give a bit more time than usual before following up again.

Should I accept a job offer in December?

If the offer is right, yes. Confirm your start date and get the details in writing.

Start the new year organized

Track every application, follow-up and interview in one place with JobStacky.