Why it’s a good idea to start your job search in December

The holidays are right around the corner. If one of your New Year’s resolutions is to get a new job, here are 7 reasons why you should start your job search in December.

1.      Sign on bonus – It’s not uncommon for companies to offer sign on bonuses in December to encourage prospective hires to take an offer. Employers recognize that starting a new job in December may mean that their new hire may be forgoing a year-end bonus at their old company. Sign on bonuses are a nice incentive to make a move, and they can make overall compensation packages more attractive.

2.     New year, new benefits – Job satisfaction is not just based on salary or bonuses, benefits also play an important factor. According to a study conducted by Fractl, 54% of respondents gave better health, dental, and vision insurance heavy consideration when choosing a job. Flexible hours, more vacation time and work from home options are other benefits that carry weight when considering different career options. Candidates who land jobs in December can look forward to starting January with a new benefits package, which can be a great plus if you’re unhappy with the benefits offered by your current employer.

3.     A relaxed transition – The end of the year is generally a less busy time so you can get to know your team members in a more relaxed environment. With holiday parties going on at the end of the year, it's a great time to mingle and integrate with the company culture!

4.      Enjoy time off while you settle in – Companies will generally offer employees a couple days off for Christmas and New Year’s Day since they are federal holidays. If you wait until January to job search, you probably won't be able to take any time off out the gates.

5.      More time to ramp up – Performance expectations may not be as high in December giving you more time to train and ramp up for January. It can take some time to get used to the ins and outs of a new job. Having this ramp up period can make for a smoother transition.

6.      Use it or lose it budgets – Companies want to capitalize on use it or lose it budgets, so they may be able to offer more in order to get someone started in December vs. January.

7.     Less competition – Less candidates are actively on the market in December, so you may not have that much competition. There’s typically an influx of active candidates in January because people want to start off the new year with a new job, but if you start applying actively in December, you’ll be ahead of the curve.

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