The holidays are here—but that doesn’t mean your career should take a vacation.

As the year winds down and calendars fill with holiday parties, vacation days, and peppermint-flavored everything, it’s tempting to put your career plans on hold until January. But, the end of the year is actually one of the best times to take meaningful action for your career. Whether you’re actively job hunting, ready to ask for a raise, or just thinking about what’s next, there are plenty of moves you can make right now to set yourself up for a strong start to 2026.

Here are five things you can do before the ball drops:

1. Keep Your Job Search Going

Don’t buy into the myth that companies stop hiring during the holidays. Many organizations are working to use up budgets, finalize teams, or get ahead of Q1.

Why now’s a great time to apply:

• Less competition—many job seekers pause their search
• More visibility for your resume
• Interview timelines often move faster than you’d expect

Pro tip: Stay active on LinkedIn, reach out to your network, and be ready to move quickly if a role opens up.

2. Schedule That Raise or Promotion Conversation

Managers are planning budgets and goals for the new year. That makes now a great time to advocate for yourself. If you’ve had a strong year, gather your wins, quantify your impact, and schedule a short conversation with your manager. Don’t wait until Q1 when everything is already locked in.

3. Reflect and Reset

Take a step back and think about your career with fresh eyes:

• What energized you this year?
• What drained you?
• What do you want more of—or less of—in your work?

You don’t need to map out your entire future. But having clarity on what success looks like for you is a powerful step toward making it happen.

4. Refresh Your Resume and LinkedIn

Think of it as digital housekeeping. Update your skills, add new accomplishments, and make sure your online presence reflects where you are today not where you were a year ago. And yes, recruiters notice when someone is actively engaged on LinkedIn. (We should know, we are recruiters.)

5. Reconnect with People You Know

The holidays are a natural time to reach out with a quick “Happy Holidays—hope you’re doing well!” message. You never know where those warm touches might lead. Whether it’s an old manager, former coworker, or mentor you haven’t spoken to in a while, don’t be shy. Relationships are the secret weapon of career growth.

One Last Thing…

This time of year should also include rest. You’ve earned it. If your idea of productivity this December is taking stock of your wins, updating your resume, and eating your weight in holiday cookies, we support it!

From all of us at ITC, we’re wishing you a joyful, healthy, and opportunity-filled holiday season.

We’ll be here whenever you’re ready to take your next step.