By Russell Wolf, VP of Delivery

Every year around this time, candidates tell me some version of the same thing: “I’m going to pause my search until after the holidays. Nobody’s hiring right now anyway.”

I get it. Calendars fill up, people are out of the office, and it feels like everyone is coasting toward New Year’s. But hiring doesn’t stop in Q4. A lot of candidates do, and that’s why this can be one of the best times of the year to be looking.

Start with budgets. Plenty of companies have headcount approved for this year that goes away if they don’t use it. Hiring managers know that. In November and December, the motivated ones aren’t slowing down. They’re trying to get someone signed before the budget resets.

Then there’s the competition, or the lack of it. When half the market decides to wait until January, the people still looking get more attention. There are fewer applicants per role, you get more time with the hiring manager, and you have a better shot at being remembered.

Now picture January. Everyone who paused comes back at once, along with everyone who made “new job” a New Year’s resolution. Inboxes fill up, and the manager who was eager to talk in November is suddenly sorting through a stack. You can absolutely get hired in January. You’ll just be standing in a much longer line.

To be fair, Q4 hiring does move a little differently. Interviews get scheduled around PTO. An approval might take an extra week because the person who signs off is out of state visiting family. Start dates often slide into early January. None of that is a reason to stop. Just plan around it.

A few things that help this time of year:

• Be flexible on interview times. If the only slot a manager has is the Monday after Thanksgiving, take it.
• Respond quickly. Decisions can happen fast in December when a manager wants it wrapped up before leaving for the holidays.
• Don’t read too much into silence. A quiet week in late December usually means people are out, not that you are.
• Reconnect with your network. Holiday events and year-end check-ins give you a natural, low-pressure reason to reach out.

If you’re not ready to make a move yet, use these weeks to get ready. Update your resume while this year’s wins are still fresh. Write down the problems you solved and what they meant for the business. That way, when January hits, you’re already moving while everyone else is just getting started.

So if you were planning to hit pause until the new year, I’d rethink that. The people who keep going in November and December are often the ones starting new jobs while everyone else is still dusting off their resumes.

From all of us at ITC, happy holidays. I hope you get some real downtime with the people who matter most, and that 2027 brings you the opportunity you’re looking for.