• ‘Tis the Season to Recruit

    In most cases everyone — including recruiters — gear down and change their work patterns for the holidays. But if you’re a corporate recruiting leader, December can be a prime recruiting month because many employed prospects have free time to consider a new job due to a reduced workload. The end of the year is also a time where many potential candidates are reevaluating their current work situation and planning for the future.

    Here are some of the top reasons why it makes sense to ramp up recruiting during the holiday season:

    It’s the season of giving

    The holidays are all about giving, so you are providing individuals with exciting opportunities that will change their lives. The gift of a new job costs the individual nothing but they and their family will get a great long-term benefit from it.

    Potential candidates have more free time

    Because many employees and even customers take time off during this month, there is simply more downtime for individuals to look for a job and to respond to recruiter calls. Many take their unused vacation in December and as a result, are often available for calls and interviews. The week between Christmas and New Year’s is also typically a time when individuals reflect on their life and work and decide it’s time to make a change.

    Recruiting competition is slim

    Because many corporate recruiting budgets run out in December, it’s not unusual for companies to literally have no money available which limits their ability to recruit. The lull in the office and having many colleagues taking time off may also cause recruiters to be less active. If you are highly active during December, there’s a good chance you won’t encounter many of your competitor’s recruiters actively fighting with you over top candidates.

    Prospects will be highly active on social media

    The holiday season is a prime time to be contacting friends, online shopping, and sending pictures and greetings, which means prospects will be frequently be online which makes it easier to find and communicate with them.

    December is prime time for college recruiting

    Nearly a third of college students graduate at the end of the fall semester, and during the winter break they have a great deal of free time, so they are easy to contact and physically meet when they return home.

    New fiscal year budgets begin

    Because many business calendar years start the first of January, employers will know their upcoming budget in early December.

    Most firms don’t recruit heavily during this period, so naturally it’s easy to for corporate leaders to follow the crowd and to also wind down their own recruiting efforts during December. Strategically however, the best time to recruit is when others are idle and when the candidates are most available and receptive.

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