The best hires don’t wait for January, and neither should recruiters

Here are some reasons why hiring during the festive season can give you a head start for the new year:

A quiet market is a chance to stand out

Many companies wait until January to advertise roles, believing job seekers are inactive over the holidays. Those that advertise vacancies over December will stand out, giving them the opportunity to attract high-quality candidates with less competition. Platforms like Pnet allow you to review CVs and post ads even if you’re not in the office over the holiday season.

Job seekers are more engaged online

Many professionals use this quieter period of the year to reflect on their careers and plan their next move. They are also spending more time online – browsing, shopping, reconnecting and, yes, looking at career opportunities and updating their CVs and career profiles. As such, it’s a chance to reach an engaged pool of candidates.

More time to focus on recruitment

With business slowing down in December, you can give hiring the focus it deserves. You can use the time to write your job descriptions, review applications, refine your shortlist and schedule interviews. Pnet’s Response Handling Team can manage candidate communication and shortlisting for you, ensuring your recruitment momentum continues during the holidays. This will significantly shorten your time to hire as candidates will be kept warm and engaged during the quieter period of the year.

Easier interview scheduling

The quiet weeks and busy social schedules of the year-end mean candidates can take time for interviews without disrupting their work schedules. Informal meetings, virtual chats, or early-stage interviews can take place discreetly, helping you to quicken the process before calendars fill up in January.

Get a head start for 2026

Hiring in December could help you avoid recruitment fee increases in the new year. In addition, you can start 2026 on the front foot, with a strong shortlist ready for interviews or even with new hires already selected and ready to be onboarded. The festive season is also an ideal time to focus on workforce planning for the year ahead. Review your business plans and think about the talent you will need.

Use insights from sources like Pnet’s Job Market Trends Reports and Guide to analysing your recruitment needs to review your approach, identify skills gaps, and set clear recruitment goals for the year ahead. This will help you in making strategic data-driven decisions that will shape your recruitment strategy giving you a competitive advantage.

Final thoughts