Job Searching Over the Holidays: How to Use December Well

December is a good month for a job search if you use it differently. Hiring often slows around the holidays but rarely stops, and the season brings unusual chances for conversations with relatives, family friends and alumni. Use the month to fix your materials, have a few real conversations, send focused applications and line up January, while still taking time off.

Why December is worth your time

Many job seekers pause in December and plan to start fresh in January. That makes this month quieter in useful ways.

• Some employers still post and interview, and fewer applicants may be competing for attention.
• Holiday gatherings put you in a room with people who have jobs, contacts and advice.
• College seniors on break finally have time that is not taken up by classes and finals.
• Work done now means you start January with momentum instead of a blank page.

College seniors should also see our college senior job search guide and senior year plan for college.

Week one: clean up your materials

1. Update your resume. Add fall projects, jobs and leadership roles. If experience is thin, writing a resume with no experience shows how to present coursework and part-time work.
2. Refresh your LinkedIn profile with a clear headline and a photo. See LinkedIn for college students.
3. Write a short introduction: two or three sentences on what you studied, what you are looking for and why.
4. Build a target list of 15 to 25 employers or roles, not 200.

Use holiday gatherings for conversations

You do not need to network at the dinner table. You just need to be ready when someone asks, “So what are you doing next?”

• Give your short introduction instead of “I don’t know yet.”
• Ask one follow-up: “Do you know anyone who works in that field?”
• Follow up within a few days with a short, polite message asking for 15 minutes.
• Turn those into informational interviews, which often matter more than cold applications.
• If small talk is hard, networking for introverts has gentler approaches.

Apply with focus

Five tailored applications usually beat fifty rushed ones. For each role on your list, adjust the resume to match the posting, write a short cover note if requested, and track it in a simple spreadsheet with the date applied and the next step. If interviews come up over break, prepare with job interview prep and send a thank-you note afterward; following up after an interview explains how.

Keep momentum without burning out

A job search can wear people down, especially when replies are slow over the holidays.

• Set a weekly target, such as five applications and two conversations, then stop for the week.
• Take real days off around the holidays.
• Expect silence from some employers until the new year, and do not read too much into it.
• If rejection is getting to you, handling job rejection may help.

Set up January before the month ends

In the last week of December, review what you did, who you need to follow up with and what to change. Put your weekly targets on the calendar for January. College seniors heading back to campus should also look at making winter break count, and anyone setting bigger goals can try New Year goals for young adults.

Where a mentor helps

A job search is mostly a weekly discipline: a target list, a set number of applications and conversations, and steady follow-up. A mentor helps keep that rhythm going. Through our career and education focus, a mentor meets with you weekly by video, helps set realistic weekly targets and checks in by text between sessions. Seniors can work with a mentor through mentoring for college students, and recent graduates through young adult mentoring. Mentors are not recruiters and do not place candidates in jobs.

Related

• Your first job after college
• Job search burnout
• College internships
• Thanksgiving break for college students

Common questions

Do companies hire in December?

Many do, though the pace often slows around the holidays. Applications and conversations started in December can lead to interviews in January.

Should I wait until January to start applying?

No. Use December to prepare materials, have conversations and send focused applications so you start the new year ahead.

How do I bring up my job search at family gatherings?

Have a short, clear introduction ready and ask one specific question, such as whether they know someone in your field. Follow up afterward by message.

Can a mentor help with a job search over break?

Yes. Sessions are by video, so a mentor can help set weekly targets and keep momentum whether you are home or on campus.

Get started

Want a steady plan for your job search? Call (888) 305 5422, email contact@blackburnmentoring.com or start with a short assessment. A member of our team reviews every assessment personally and sets up a free intro call.