Hiring During the Holidays: The Smart Move That Sets You Up for Q1 Success
Hiring during the holidays can feel a little like trying to squeeze one more side dish onto an already overflowing holiday dinner plate. Whether you’re a business owner, a department leader, or the HR professional everyone turns to, December brings its own brand of busyness. You’re closing out the year, approving PTO, attending school concerts and family gatherings, budgeting for next year… and maybe trying to sneak in a Christmas cookie or two.
So I get it—adding hiring into the mix might feel like one more thing.
But here’s the encouraging truth: Some of the best hiring opportunities of the year happen between Thanksgiving and New Year’s. Based on prior year data, December is an under-leveraged window when many employers pause, and the prepared employer wins. And if your goal is to have a new teammate in place in early 2026, starting now can make all the difference.
Let’s take a quick, honest look at the pros and cons so you can make a confident plan.
The Pros: Why Holiday Hiring Gives You an Edge
Less Competition
Many companies hit pause in December. Job ads go stale. Emails sit unanswered. Interviews get postponed until after the holidays. Meanwhile, the employers who do stay active often enjoy a clearer playing field and faster responses.
Candidates Are Thinking Ahead
Even in the middle of holiday shopping and Christmas pageants, strong candidates are planning for January. They’ve used their PTO. Their bonus is pending. They’re evaluating what they want next. This mindset makes December a surprisingly open door.
December Grads Are Ready
Not everyone graduates in May. Some finish mid-December—excited, motivated, and looking for a place to land. If you are hiring for a position where a degree is preferred, this is a beautiful moment to connect.
Referrals Happen Naturally
Holiday gatherings create natural connection points. A great candidate may surface because someone chatted with a friend at a Christmas program or bumped into a former coworker at a church event. If your team knows what roles you’re hiring for (and you offer a healthy referral bonus), December can be a goldmine.
Hiring for New Roles? Discovery Takes Time
This one matters most for owners and leaders launching a brand-new role in early 2026.
New roles always involve exploration:
You interview a few people and realize the job description needs to be tweaked.
You find a candidate whose background shifts your understanding of the role.
You adjust the title, re-evaluate the pay range, or rewrite the posting.
It’s not a bad thing—it’s normal. But it also means you need time. Starting in November or December gives you space to think, revise, and hire intentionally, rather than rushing in January.
The Cons: Why Holiday Hiring Can Feel Challenging
Your Schedule Is Packed
Between holiday PTO, family gatherings, and year-end tasks, moving candidates through the process can take more effort. If you can’t respond quickly, you may lose great people to faster-moving employers—an expensive and frustrating possibility.
Some Candidates Wait for Bonuses
A handful will hit pause until their year-end bonus comes through. They often reappear right after Christmas, so expect a small surge then.
Evaluation Takes Time
Take an honest look at your budget and team structure before adding a new person. Sometimes, small internal shifts can resolve the issue; sometimes, hiring is the best next step.
So… Should You Hire in December?
If you want to hire early in 2026, yes, starting now is a wise move. If your capacity is limited, prepare everything now so you’re ready to launch quickly on January 2nd.
Either way, having a plan will keep you from scrambling later.
A Quick but Important Invitation
Do you want to wait until January 2026 to start hiring? If so, please note that January fills up quickly. In past years, we’ve seen new searches delayed up to two weeks simply because so many companies try to launch at the same time.
A better plan?
Connect with your recruiter in November or December.
That way we can:
Pre-write your job ad
Fine-tune the role
Set a scheduled start date for your search
Post your ad in late December to start building your candidate pool ahead of the January rush
These simple steps can save you weeks of waiting and set you up for a calm, confident start to the new year.
Let’s Build Your 2026 Hiring Strategy
Whether you’re an owner, a leader, or an HR professional, the choices you make now shape the team you’ll rely on next year.
If you need help planning or would like to reserve your spot for a January search, I'd be happy to help you find the strategy that works best for your team.
📩 Email: kristen@teambuilderrecruiting.com
📞 Call: 717-455-3822
Let’s set your team up for a strong, steady, and well-supported 2026!