December Hiring: Securing Top Talent

Most people assume hiring slows to a crawl during the holidays. Offices are quieter, people are travelling, and teams are tying up loose ends before the new year. It feels like the worst time to recruit.

However, the reality is, December is one of the best months to find and secure top talent. While some companies hit pause on hiring, the strongest candidates are quietly preparing for a transition. And employers who stay active during this time gain a real competitive advantage.

Here’s why it matters, what’s shifting beneath the surface, and how to take advantage of it instead of falling behind.

Why Top Talent Moves in December

1. December Triggers Real Career Clarity

Performance reviews, bonus conversations, leadership changes, missed promotions — all of it lands at once. This creates a moment of clarity and openness to change, especially among experienced professionals.

This isn’t passive browsing — this is intentional movement.

2. Disengaged high performers don’t wait—they plan

Top performers rarely announce they’re unhappy during the year.
But they do use downtime in December to:

• update resumes

• take recruiter calls

• explore opportunities

• ask for trusted referrals

• evaluate their long-term path

If you’re not visible during this period, you simply won’t be considered when they’re most open.

3. There’s less competition for the best candidates

While other companies delay hiring, the organizations that stay active have:

• fewer companies competing for the same talent

• faster interview cycles

• less pressure to overspend

• more ability to secure talent before the January surge

December is quiet — which is exactly what makes it powerful.

4. Bonus season triggers real movement

In many industries (and some pockets of cannabis), year-end bonuses or commission payouts influence mobility. The best candidates begin exploring in December so they can accept new roles shortly after bonuses hit.

If you start your search in January, you’re already late.

The Impact of Waiting until January

Waiting until January feels logical, but it creates several operational problems:

❌ Your competitors start posting roles at the same time
❌ Searches take longer due to budget resets and internal meetings
❌ The best candidates are already in conversations — just not with you
❌ Teams lose Q1 momentum while waiting for hires

By the time you “start fresh” in January, top talent has already been identified, engaged, and in some cases, hired.

Take Hiring Action in December

Here are practical steps companies can take in December to gain the hiring advantage:

1. Begin the hring progress now

You don’t need to make the hire right away. But opening the role early allows you to:

• build a pipeline

• start conversations

• identify top candidates

• interview before the rush

Then you can move quickly in early January. January should be your offer month — not your kickoff month.

2. Streamline Your Interview Process for the Holidays

You can keep hiring active without overwhelming your team. A simple structure:

• Week 1: recruiter screen

• Week 2: hiring manager conversation

• Week 3: panel or technical interview

• Week 4: final discussion + offer alignment

This gives candidates clarity, and your team can still take vacation without stalling the process.

3. Let Someone (Like Your Recruiter) Keep the Search Warm

Internal teams slow down because people are off. Recruiters can focus on keeping the momentum going. A strong recruiting partner can:

• pre-screen candidates while your team is offline

• manage expectations and timelines

• keep interest warm during holiday gaps

• present top candidates as soon as you’re back

You return from the holidays with vetted candidates ready to go — not an empty pipeline.

4. Communicate Transparent Holiday Timelines

Candidates don’t expect a fast process in December — they just expect communication. Be upfront about holiday schedules and what the timeline will look like. Clear expectations keep candidates engaged without putting unnecessary pressure on your team.

5. Lock in your job scope and compensation now

January hiring delays are often caused not by recruitment — but by internal decision-making. If you:

• finalize the job description

• confirm compensation (especially with Pay Transparency changes)

• outline interview steps

• get internal alignment

…then your January hiring becomes smooth, fast, and competitive.

December Isn’t a Slow Month — It’s a Strategic One

The employers who continue hiring now will:

✔ Attract higher-quality talent
✔ Build stronger pipelines
✔ Beat the January rush
✔ Move faster than competitors
✔ Enter Q1 with momentum instead of delay

And the employers who wait? They’ll spend January chasing the candidates you already met in December.