In partnership with
Happy December! I hope Thanksgiving gave you at least a moment of quiet… or at the very least, a moment where no one needed anything from you for five minutes straight.
Now that we’ve officially entered the season where half the workforce is (at best) half-present and half on PTO, I want to talk about something candidates get blindsided by every single year: Job searching during the holidays.
It’s confusing. It’s slow. It’s emotionally chaotic. And if you’re not careful, it can hijack your entire holiday season.
So let’s talk about what actually happens in December hiring, and how to keep your momentum and your peace.
A real story from just a few days ago
Early last week, one of our candidates wrapped up a final-round interview. Typically, we get an answer in a day or two.
But it was the week of Thanksgiving. Leadership and key decision makers were on PTO.
The people who needed to weigh in weren’t online.
Instead of pushing for a decision that wasn’t realistic, we asked, “When will the decision be made?”
The answer: “It’ll be a week.”
Ideal? No.
Honest & Clear? Absolutely.
Better than radio silence? Yes.
This is why I coach candidates to ask:
“When should I expect to hear back?”
“Are decisions likely to be delayed because of the holidays?”
“If I don’t hear anything by ___, is it okay to check in?”
Companies may slow down, but you still deserve clarity.
Another quick story
A couple of weeks ago, I was working with a hiring manager on a software engineering search. We realized he was about to be out for almost two weeks. Normally, that would mean the process would stall until he got back.
But here’s the thing: software engineering roles are brutally competitive. If you don’t move fast, you lose good people.
Shortly before he left, we identified a candidate who checked every box. Strong experience, strong communication, strong alignment with the team. We knew we couldn’t let this stretch into December.
So here’s what we did:
raised the flag immediately
synced with the hiring manager
cleared schedules
and lined up back-to-back-to-back interviews to get the candidate through the full process before he left town
We didn’t skip any steps. We just skipped the dead space between them.
And it worked. The candidate moved through quickly, everyone was able to evaluate them thoroughly, and we got the offer out, and the candidate starts the day the hiring manager gets back.
In this case, the hiring manager being out of town didn’t slow us down; it forced everyone to focus, communicate, and move with intention.
Sometimes PTO delays things. Sometimes it creates urgency. The trick is knowing which situation you’re in. And this can only happen with clear communication.
Here’s the truth about Holiday hiring
People assume December is a hiring wasteland.
It’s not. It’s messy, but it’s not dead.
From the outside, it looks like nothing is happening. Behind the scenes? Plenty is happening…just at a weird pace.
Common December realities:
Early December is often one of the busiest interview periods of the year.
Some companies want to hire before Q1 budgets reset.
Others want people lined up to start the first week of January.
Leaders disappear for random PTO days.
Approvals get stuck behind one person’s OOO message.
Recruiters are trying to move things forward but don’t have the green light.
Hiring managers intend to move quickly…until they hit holiday burnout themselves.
December isn’t a “stop.” It’s a series of mini traffic jams.
So if you’re a candidate: Don’t stop your search, but don’t spiral when things slow.
The “holiday panic apply” phenomenon
Almost every year, between Christmas and New Year’s, I see the same behavior:
Someone finally slows down enough to breathe. They realize they’re unhappy at work. And in a burst of clarity and panic, they:
slap updated dates on their resume,
upload an old PDF they barely skimmed,
and apply to 20 jobs in one sitting.
It feels productive. It feels powerful. It feels like, “Ha! I’ll show THEM!”
But here’s the truth: You’re not job searching. You’re stress-dumping.
It doesn’t get better outcomes. It doesn’t move you closer to the right job. It just adds noise and gives you the illusion of progress.
If the holidays make you realize you want to explore something new…that’s valid. Just don’t sprint into chaos.
Slow down and get clear:
What would you miss about your current role?
What’s actually not working?
What kind of work energizes you?
What are your non-negotiables in a new position?
What are the tradeoffs you’re willing to make?
Write it down. Sit with it. Revisit it.
Because once a company wants you, the “wow, they want me!” rush can overshadow “is this right for me?”
Clarity protects you from that.
The emotional side of December job searching
Let’s be real: December gives you way too much time to overthink.
You’re not as busy with work. Your inbox is quieter. Your routine is different.
And suddenly your brain has enough bandwidth to build:
elaborate worst-case scenarios
imaginary rejections
and a whole narrative about how “they must not like me anymore”
None of this is reality. This is just what happens when our brains are too quiet and too tired at the same time.
Which is why I cannot say this loudly enough: Set boundaries. Please.
Holiday job search boundaries that protect your peace
These are some boundaries I recommend:
Pick specific times to check your email.
Twice a day is plenty.
Not every 20 minutes between bites of pumpkin pie.Take full days completely off the search.
Yes, even if you’re unemployed.
Rest is not self-sabotage.Cap your “job search window” at one hour a day, max.
The point is consistency, not exhaustion.Let the holidays be the holidays.
You are allowed to enjoy the people and moments in front of you.Do not follow up repeatedly because you’re anxious.
One polite check-in every 7–10 days is enough.
Boundaries aren’t about neglecting your job search. They’re about protecting your mental health so you can show up well when things pick back up.
And now… let’s talk about family questions.
If you’re job searching during the holidays, you already know what’s coming:
“So… any updates?”
“Have you tried LinkedIn?”
“Did you see that article about how AI is hiring people now?”
“My friend’s cousin got a job at Google in two weeks, want me to connect you?”
Take a deep breath. Then use this script:
“I’m working through a few processes right now, and I’ll share updates when I have them. But I’m taking the holidays to rest; let’s talk about something else.”
You don’t owe your family quarterly reporting metrics on your job search.
The takeaway
Don’t stop job searching in December. But don’t let December run your life.
Stay engaged. Ask for clarity. Keep momentum where you can. And give yourself permission to actually enjoy the season you’re in.
See you next Monday,
Robin
#gorogue
Create how-to video guides fast and easy with AI
Tired of explaining the same thing over and over again to your colleagues?
It’s time to delegate that work to AI. Guidde is a GPT-powered tool that helps you explain the most complex tasks in seconds with AI-generated documentation.
1️⃣Share or embed your guide anywhere
2️⃣Turn boring documentation into stunning visual guides
3️⃣Save valuable time by creating video documentation 11x faster
Simply click capture on the browser extension and the app will automatically generate step-by-step video guides complete with visuals, voiceover and call to action.
The best part? The extension is 100% free