Thermoforming Report

Wrapping Up the Year

It’s Friday, December 13! (No, I won’t be making any “Friday the 13^th” comments.)  We are essentially halfway through the last month of the year. 

A lot of people I speak with assume that the holidays are slow for hiring.  BUT, after 10 years in the talent business, I’ve found just the opposite to be true: things are pretty busy. 

There is pressure to fill critical roles or there is a major need to get that new All-Star in place as early in the new year as possible.  Now, with only two weeks left in the year and likely a lot of vacations in the mix, the likelihood that you will make a hire or land a new role starts to diminish.  But that doesn’t mean you should just pack it up and call it a year – not by a long way!

Maintaining Momentum

First, if you are already in process on a role – either as a hiring manager or candidate – be diligent and flexible. There are still 12 business days left… although in reality only 6 to 8 days are likely going to be available. 

But that is still plenty of time to schedule interviews!  It requires flexibility, the will to make it happen, and understanding that as the month and year turn over, having a critical decision made makes for a more relaxing holiday season and a confident fresh start.

Second, if you are not in process, don’t assume that the year is done.  Any momentum you generate ahead of Christmas will provide a major boost when everyone gets all the way back into the swing of things on January 6.  Plus, even though things are busy this time of year, there are those that enjoy the quiet of the office and the manufacturing plants and get caught up on things – including reviewing resumes, thinking through their organization needs for the coming year, and similar.  If you just let things slide, you may miss a chance to have the upper hand on the interview process come January. 

Third, if you are hiring for a critical role, keep the pressure up.  Time is money as they say, and the hiring process typically is already fraught with delays.  Pushing out interviews this time of year adds a couple of weeks at a minimum – and that is lost opportunity!

My point: maintain your momentum!  It will pay off!

The How-To’s

As usual, there are a lot of resources out there that provide solid tips to help you maintain momentum in your job or talent search this time of year.  Several are listed below for your perusal and definitely will be of use to you.  That said, we aren’t reinventing the wheel here!  Though the challenges of job search do not change, your approach given the market dynamics – holiday busyness in this case – does need to shift a bit.

1. Networking during all of those holiday parties. There are some great tips from “12 Holiday Networking Tips You Need To Know,” from Work It Daily (Nov 2024).  You should ALWAYS be in networking mode and especially during a season where there are plenty of opportunities.  Depending on the environment and situation (particularly how confidential you are treating your search), it is a perfect opportunity to meet new people and get your name out there.  And as hiring managers, don’t miss out on the chance to talk up a new role at the party – your best and brightest people tend to have other All-Star colleagues that may not be aware of what you are seeking.
2. Flexibility will pay dividends.  As a hiring manager, prioritize your search efforts and carve out time for interviews.  Though this may seem counterintuitive, you tend to have more discretionary time because fewer meetings are scheduled.  Use it to review resumes and have conversations with All-Stars.  And, as a candidate, you also may already have time off so take advantage of it and plan a few interviews.  Indeed’s tip #4 in their “7 Tips for an Effective Job Search During the Holidays” highlights this idea – and I take it one more step by driving to get that interview scheduled!
3. Assess your plans.  This can come in the form of thinking about “what you want to be when you grow up.” [Read more about how I answered this question in a previous article: My Story: What Do You Want To Be When You Grow Up?.] 
   • Forbes’ “If You’re Looking For A New Job During The Holiday Season, Here’s What To Do Now” talks through this idea: “It’s critical to assess one’s skills, experiences and interests against the requirements and scopes of potential new roles or industries.”  Likewise, as an organization leader, it is a great time to reflect on your team’s needs and determine where there are talent gaps.  Then, get that plan in place and be ready to execute – or reach out to your trusted niched recruiter to get things cranked up now!
4. Focus on the process.  This can be anything from digging into the types of roles you are seeking via some soul-searching (see #3 above) and then seeking out those niche roles or recruiters.  If things have been hit or miss or you feel disorganized about your search, take the time to streamline your process by implementing stronger documentation, tune your resume, update your LinkedIn profile, and more.  As a hiring manager, you are in control of your own destiny on landing that great new team member.  Take some time to think about the hiccups that occurred in the last couple of searches and work to tune up the process.  LinkedIn’s article from a couple years ago, “How to Keep Your Job Search Moving During the Holiday Season,” has some great tips on this.

Putting a Bow on It

As we wrap up this year (pun intended!), your job search is important! Whether you are seeking a new role or working to land your next All-Star, putting it on pause this time of year isn’t wise.  Use the articles and tips above to help you navigate this season. 

That said, do take the time to enjoy your loved ones, invest in some rest, reflect on 2024, and what’s to come in 2025. 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

As your Thermoforming Talent Partner, we represent clients AND candidates! We’re here to help in any and every way possible! We provide hiring strategies, priority candidate searches, job searches, client & candidate introductions, interview tips, résumé facelifts, resignation strategies, and much much more. LET’S STRENGTHEN YOUR SEARCH!