The Holiday Hiring…The Holiday Hiring Freeze

The Holiday Hiring Freeze

The holiday season is upon us and this time of year is all about traditions. There are so many that we love and look forward to personally; festivities with family and friends, eating (too much) traditional food, drinking (just enough) holiday spirits, winter sports here in Utah, and, of course, shopping!

One professional tradition that we recruiters do not look forward to this time of year is the HOLIDAY HIRING FREEZE…

That time of year when hiring managers who "really wanted to get someone in place before January" suddenly seize up in the cold weather. Like animatronic snowmen in a storefront window, they can barely make a move. Their batteries are exhausted from Q4 budget meetings and they get stuck in a loop of, “Keep them warm, keep them warm, keep them warm…” We started sending out hats, scarves, and mittens to candidates because we tried everything else we could think of to ‘keep them warm’ this time of year.

How can you not only withstand but actually take advantage of the holiday hiring freeze? Well, if you’re a hiring manager, it’s easy - hire someone! It’s literally your job and now is your last, best chance to secure top talent while your colleagues (competition) are busy window shopping. By the time they thaw out in Q1, your team will be stocked up, locked in, and ready to rock the new year!

Beginning at the end of November and continuing through the end of January, hiring across most industries tends to slow down or even seize up due to a combination of seasonal and strategic reasons. Employees across the board take time off for vacations, family gatherings, and personal celebrations. This reduced availability impacts both job seekers and hiring managers, leading to fewer interview slots, delayed decision-making, and elongated hiring processes.

Uncertainty regarding the business outlook for the upcoming year can lead companies to adopt a cautious approach to hiring. Economic fluctuations, market trends, and global events may prompt organizations to temporarily pause hiring initiatives until they have a clearer understanding of the business landscape in the new year.

Many businesses shift their focus away from hiring during this period. Year-end activities such as performance evaluations, financial assessments, and strategic planning take precedence. Companies often prioritize wrapping up pending projects, finalizing budgets, and forecasting for the upcoming year. As a result, recruitment activities can take a backseat to these critical year-end initiatives. But it doesn’t have to be that way…

While this period presents challenges for recruitment, it also offers an opportunity for companies to regroup, strategize, and prepare for a more active hiring season as the new year unfolds.

We get it. We’ve been in planning mode ourselves, but we have not let off the gas! Partly because that’s just not how we’re built but also because this is a great time of year to gain ground on the competition as they do slow down.

Similarly, December and January can indeed be opportune times for companies to engage in aggressive hiring despite the common perception of business slowdown during these months. Sound counterintuitive? Outrageous? Preposterous?

Here are several reasons why this period can be advantageous for companies to ramp up their recruitment efforts:

Less Competition:

Again, many businesses slow down in general and assume that this time of year isn't ideal for hiring. This leads to decreased competition in the job market. With fewer companies actively recruiting, organizations that do hire during this time can attract top talent more easily. Job seekers may also be more available and willing to engage in the hiring process.

Talent Availability:

December and January often see an influx of job seekers actively seeking new opportunities. Factors such as end-of-year bonuses, performance evaluations, or personal resolutions to find new jobs contribute to a larger talent pool. This influx allows companies to access a broader range of skilled individuals seeking employment.

Strategic Planning and Preparation:

This one applies to existing employees and new hires. As business activities slow down, organizations have a chance to strategically plan and forecast their hiring needs for the upcoming year. Employers can utilize this period to refine job descriptions, assess skill gaps, and create a comprehensive recruitment strategy that aligns with their business goals for the next year.

Onboarding and Training:

Hiring during downtime allows new employees to start the year fresh, becoming fully integrated into the company culture, goals, and processes. This timing also provides an opportunity for training and orientation before projects pick up speed, allowing new hires to contribute effectively when business operations resume at full throttle.

Tax Benefits and Budget Allocation:

That’s right, there can be monetary advantages too! For many businesses, the end of the fiscal year falls in December. Hiring in December can potentially enable companies to leverage tax benefits associated with recruiting expenses and allocate any remaining budget towards new hires or expansion plans for the following year.

Reduced Time to Fill Positions:

Given the lower volume of job applications in December and January, the time to fill vacant positions might decrease significantly. HR departments often experience shorter turnaround times for hiring decisions, interviews, and negotiations due to the reduced workload. When you work with a good recruiter, they’ll continue to be proactive, finding difficult-to-find talent to fill jobs fast!

Employee Referrals and Networking Opportunities:

Festive gatherings, office parties, and networking events abound this time of year, providing ample opportunities for employees to network and refer potential candidates. Utilizing these social occasions can lead to discovering new talent through employee referrals, which tend to be of high quality (GOLD!).

Setting the Tone for Company Culture:

Bringing in new hires at the end of the year allows them to start afresh and be part of setting the company's tone for the upcoming year. It establishes a sense of belonging and inclusion within the team, enhancing overall employee satisfaction and retention. It also sets the tone that your company doesn’t wait around when things need to be done. That you don’t just do business one way because that’s how it’s always been done.

So, while it may seem counterintuitive to hire aggressively during December and January, these months present a unique window of opportunity for businesses to acquire top talent, plan strategically, and set a strong foundation for the forthcoming year. By taking advantage of these factors, companies can gain a competitive edge and position themselves for success in the months ahead.

There is certainly a place for traditions, at home and in the office. But outdated, ineffective hiring processes that will inevitably hurt business shouldn’t be one of yours.

Happy hiring and happy holidays!

If you’re open to exploring new opportunities rather than hiring, check out our job board here.

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