When December rolls around, many businesses hit the brakes on recruitment. The common perception? “Everyone’s on holiday, candidates aren’t looking, and it’s better to wait until January.”
But here’s the truth: December recruitment can be one of the most strategic moves you make all year. If you’re in HR or talent acquisition, this is your chance to challenge the status quo and gain a competitive edge. If you are a leader, now is the time to secure your new hire so that January is for progression – not recruitment.
It’s not hard to see why this belief sticks around - I’ve even bought into it myself. The festive season brings office closures, annual leave, and a natural slowdown in business activity. It feels instinctive to ease off the progress pedal, and many hiring managers assume candidates are too distracted to engage with new opportunities.
However, data and experience tell a different story: holiday season hiring is not a dead zone - it’s an untapped opportunity.
December is a reflective month. People take stock of their careers, evaluate their goals, and often decide it’s time for a change. Job seekers who apply in December are typically serious and motivated - they’re not casually browsing; they’re ready to move and excited about starting 2026 with new challenges. There are also candidates out there between roles/contracts and extremely keen to lock something away before the end of the year.
Many companies pause recruitment until January, which means fewer job ads and less noise in the market. If you’re hiring now, your roles stand out. Candidates are more likely to notice your opportunities and respond quickly.
January is notoriously busy for HR teams. Everyone wants to hire at once, creating bottlenecks and delays. By recruiting in December, you avoid the scramble and start the new year with your team already in place. Imagine onboarding in early January while competitors are still posting ads.
Many organisations have leftover budget at year-end. Using it for recruitment can be a smart move - especially if you want to avoid cuts in the next cycle. December hires can help you maximise resources and demonstrate proactive workforce planning.
While December hiring offers clear advantages, it’s not without its complexities:
These challenges are real - but they’re manageable with planning and the right tools and certainly not enough of a deterrent to secure your talent today.
Video interviews eliminate scheduling headaches and allow flexibility for candidates and hiring managers. Tools like Teams or Zoom make it easy to keep the process moving.
December is prime time for passive candidates - those who aren’t actively applying but are open to opportunities. A well-crafted LinkedIn message or email can spark interest when they’re reflecting on career goals.
Some candidates may want to enjoy the holidays before starting a new role. Offering a January start date can remove hesitation and secure top talent now.
If your organisation has an extensive talent acquisition team or tools, now is the time to use them. Tap into talent pools, CRM systems, and recruitment marketing strategies to reach candidates efficiently.
December hiring isn’t just about filling roles - it’s about strategic positioning. While competitors wait for January, you act. You build momentum, reduce pressure on your HR team, and demonstrate agility in a competitive market.
Think of it as setting the tone for the year ahead:
In short, December hiring isn’t a scramble, it is a strategic move that sets your business apart from competitors by ensuring you can hit the ground running in January - and securing candidates that are ready and willing to end the year with the excitement of a new opportunity.
December hiring requires a shift in mindset. Instead of seeing the festive season as downtime, view it as an opportunity to stand out. Motivated candidates are looking, competition is low, and the benefits of starting strong in January are undeniable.
So, is it worth recruiting in December? Absolutely. In fact, it might be the smartest move you make all year striking the market when competitors are sleeping and candidates are keen.
Explore our Attracting, Recruiting and Onboarding Talent topic for a range of resources from sourcing tools to help you make December hiring a success.
The HR Resource Centre’s new Attracting, Recruiting and Onboarding Talent topic has been designed by our HR and workplace relation’s experts to provide Ai Group Members with comprehensive resources, support and tools to help them to effectively manage the recruitment process.
This topic covers a wide range of essential aspects, including best practices for attracting top talent, innovative recruitment strategies, and effective onboarding processes.
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Georgina is the Senior HR Content Editor – Publications at the Ai Group. With over 25 years of experience in human resources and leadership, she has demonstrated her expertise across a diverse range of industries, including financial services, tourism, travel, government, agriculture and HR advisory. She is also an accomplished writer and editor, known for creating high-quality, engaging content that educates and informs. Her writing includes a variety of formats, such as blogs, articles, policies, templates and guides.
