December 1, 2010

Yes, Virginia, companies still hire during the holidays

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By Kristen Fife
NWjobs

Q: Does hiring slow down during the holiday season?
-LD, Seattle

Kristen says: Actually, the holidays are very busy for recruiters, with the exception of Thanksgiving week and the last ten business days of December. Some recruiters see the day after Thanksgiving and the week before New Year’s as a prime time to contact highly qualified candidates for jobs, as they are easier to reach at home. The other reality is that the end of the year is when high-powered candidates are usually considering new opportunities. Companies that are on a fiscal year coinciding with the calendar year generally pay out year-end bonuses in January, which is the time many candidates consider switching. Also, if hiring managers have been allotted a specific number of open positions for the year, they don't want to “lose them” or have their next-year employee budgets cut by not filling those openings, so they become eager to fill those open positions.

There are some industries that become busier during this season as well, and there may be opportunities to find part-time, contract or seasonal work. Of course this especially applies to retail jobs, with the added advantage that many stores offer discounts that can help with holiday gift budgets. But the financial field also picks up during this time, because of tax season. Some tax preparation companies such as H&R Block will hire and train tax preparers from January through April. In the HR field, compensation analysts and payroll professionals may be able to pick up extra contract work. This is also a good time to make sure you are registered with temporary firms, as holiday vacation requests start popping up and many companies use temporary staff to fill in. Customer service jobs become more plentiful as well.

Even a short-term or seasonal job will help your resume, as well as give you opportunities to meet new hiring managers, gain new skills and help put some money in your bank account.

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