Articles From the Team

Should I stop looking for a job during the Christmas period?

The Black Friday craziness has been and gone, Christmas is around the corner and I’m asked by lawyer candidates left, right and centre: should I stop looking for a job during the Christmas period or should I keep looking?

Obviously, the Christmas period is a great time to relax, unwind and enjoy some quality time with friends and family, and although the hiring process inevitably slows down at this time of year, firms are still recruiting. And, you still want a new job.

Reasons to continue your job search during the festive season

A head start

Many people stop their job search during the Christmas period (because it’s such a busy time, people often shelve their search until the New Year), which means less competition.

If you use your time efficiently and continue your search at a time when others aren’t, you could secure the opportunity of a lifetime.

Momentum

If your job searching is well and truly underway, you don’t want to lose any momentum. You want to keep the ball rolling and avoid the panic of January blues.

If you keep up your efforts during the holiday period you’ll find yourself ahead of the game: you’ll go into January with interviews already booked!

Christmas cheer

Generally, Christmas is a time of year when people are happy. This works in your favour in terms of the outcome (landing a job), but it also benefits you at interviews. Don’t underestimate a high level of enthusiasm and positive energy – this assists you to build rapport and leave a lasting impression on the interviewer. Personally, I don’t think there’s a better time to interview!

You might be quick to write off a continued job search during the festive period; I completely understand the reasoning behind this. But remember, you don’t have to spend all your time off amending CVs and submitting applications. You can limit this to an hour or two a day – or allocate one entire day.

Dedicating the time and being that little bit proactive, ensures you maintain momentum; sees you ahead of the competition; and, takes advantage of a Christmas positivity.

Challenging the status quo might be the smartest thing you’ve done in 2018!

Related blogs

'The importance of maintaining momentum during the recruitment process'