As the year winds down, December might feel like a quiet time in the job market—but don’t be deceived. While hiring activity does slow, it doesn’t stop entirely. In fact, the holiday season is the perfect opportunity to prepare for the upcoming January hiring surge.
With some strategic planning, you can position yourself, set yourself apart from the competition by getting ahead, and step confidently into 2025. The best part? You don’t have to make this a full-time effort.
Today’s job search success depends on mastering the job search trifecta: outreach, optimization, and networking. Your results will be based on how well you understand this trifecta and the strategies to cover each in your job search efforts.
Outreach: This is you reaching out for opportunities. Sending out tailored resumes that align with each role, highlighting your unique value and measurable achievements. This is the time you spend SEEKING OUT opportunity.
Optimization: This is optimizing your LinkedIn profile so recruiters can find you—using strategic keywords, an engaging headline, and a compelling summary that tells your professional story. This is how you enable opportunity to possibly FIND YOU.
Networking: Finally, growing your network by attending industry events and connecting with professionals on LinkedIn. These efforts help you build relationships and position yourself for opportunities that often come through your connections. Growing your network can not only lead to referrals but can increase your "Know, Like, & Trust" factor as hiring managers look you up and see you are "connected" with those in the organization or their circle.
This is why the traditional ("old school") job search approach no longer works because it relied solely on outreach and partial networking efforts. Now to receive a job offer, professionals are learning how to market themselves to advance.
It may be new, but it does not need to be difficult! It's about doing "The Next Right Thing" to increase your visibility, optimization, and connections strategically. Then doing it again and learning to do it better over time.
I am always in favor of checklists and step-by-step guides for complex efforts. So here’s a step-by-step guide to position yourself for success (without the stress):
1. Get Clear on What You Want
Before you dive into submitting resumes, take a moment to reflect: What are you looking for in your next role? Think about the type of work, company culture, and industry that excites you.
Once it’s clear, write down your goals to clarify your direction. Knowing what you want makes it easier to aim for the right opportunities, and it's quality over quantity in today’s job search.
2. Highlight What Makes You Unique
What’s your value proposition? Identify the skills, experiences, and achievements that set you apart. This is your “why you should hire me” answer, and it’s the foundation of how you’ll position yourself moving forward.
Create a skills inventory by listing both hard and soft skills you’ve developed. Include transferable skills—even those that might seem unrelated to your future goals.
Are you struggling to identify your unique strengths? A career coach can help.
Are you a career changer struggling to identify transferrable skills to strengthen your marketing position? A career coach who has experienced career changes (and a passion for it) will be an asset. It’s about strategically positioning yourself and helping hiring managers see it.
3. Build a Strong Professional Brand
Your resume, LinkedIn profile, and online presence are your first impressions to potential employers. Make them count. Your professional brand should resonate across your job search materials and help convey a story.
Resume: This is the marketing brochure for your offer (i.e., expertise).
Tailor each application to the role.
Focus on measurable accomplishments (think: percentages, dollar amounts, or project impacts).
If you’re starting with a solid resume, tailoring should take no more than 10-15 minutes.
LinkedIn Profile: Treat it like your product website. If we want to learn more about a product, don't we visit their website?
Use an engaging headline, write a clear and compelling summary, and add keywords from your target roles. Make it easy for recruiters to find and understand your strengths.
Online Presence: Share or comment on industry-related content weekly. Even small interactions can increase your visibility and boost credibility.
Tip: Send a connection request on LinkedIn after the event for those you connect with.
4. Network Strategically
Connections often lead to opportunities, so don’t underestimate the power of networking.
Reconnect with Past Contacts: Reach out to former colleagues, mentors, or industry peers.
Join Groups or Events: Participate in LinkedIn groups, Facebook communities, or industry events—both virtual and in-person.
I strongly suggest LinkedIn for two reasons: If you apply for opportunities, you can see if any connections work there or know someone who does. As you build your connections, hiring managers will see you are connected to their organization, which can help you seem “familiar.” This is a psychological trick, but if you have common connections, the mind often assumes similar work culture traits. Attend 2 to 4 monthly networking events with a mix of virtual and in-person.
Engage Authentically: Networking is about building relationships, not just asking for favors. Offer value and opportunities will follow. Reach out to hiring managers or recruiters with a genuine, personalized message. People appreciate sincerity and effort.
Pro Tip: Use shared connections, industries, or alumni networks as icebreakers for outreach messages.
5. Target Companies Proactively
Instead of passively scrolling through job boards, take charge.
Research companies that align with your values and skills.
Reach out to hiring managers or employees with personalized messages.
Tailor every application to demonstrate your fit with their goals and culture.
6. Refine Your Interview Skills
Be ready to make an impression when opportunities arise.
Perfect Your Elevator Pitch: Who you are, what you bring, and what you’re looking for—all in 60 seconds or less.
Practice Makes Perfect: Prepare answers to common questions in your industry and practice them out loud.
Focus on Impact: Highlight examples where you solved problems, led initiatives, or exceeded goals. Hiring managers want to see what you’ve done and how you’ll bring that success to their team.
Practice Your Top Value Messages: Use the Challenge-Action-Result (CAR) method to structure examples that showcase your value.
(Tip: Do you need any help here? Ask me how.)
7. Invest in Continuous Learning
Stand out by showcasing a commitment to growth.
Take a course, earn a certification, or learn a new tool.
Highlighting recent skill-building on your resume or LinkedIn profile demonstrates that you’re proactive and future-focused.
Focus on skills that align with your career goals rather than chasing unrelated credentials.
8. Stay Organized with Weekly Goals
Avoid overwhelm by breaking tasks into manageable steps. Here’s a sample weekly plan:
Option 1:
Monday: Research 2-3 companies or roles.
Tuesday: Tailor your resume for one role and apply.
Wednesday: Reach out to 2-3 LinkedIn connections or email contacts.
Thursday: Engage with LinkedIn posts or industry articles.
Friday: Practice your elevator pitch or interview answers.
Option 2:
Monday: Research 2-3 companies or roles that interest you. Reach out to 2-3 connections on LinkedIn with a personalized message.
Tuesday: Update your resume for 1-5 roles and apply. Remember, it’s quality over quantity. Reach out to 2-3 connections on LinkedIn with a personalized message.
Wednesday: Spend 30 minutes engaging on LinkedIn—comment on posts, share an article, or join a group conversation. Reach out to 2-3 connections on LinkedIn with a personalized message.
Thursday: Update your resume for 1-5 roles and apply. Reach out to 2-3 connections on LinkedIn with a personalized message.
Friday: Practice your elevator pitch and/or interview answers.
By spreading the work across the week, you’ll stay consistent without feeling like the search is taking over your life.
9. Follow Up and Stay Visible
After applying or interviewing, follow up with a thank-you message to leave a lasting impression. Consistent communication and an active LinkedIn presence will keep you top-of-mind for hiring managers.
As December begins, remember that your job search is a marathon, not a sprint. By taking intentional steps to prepare now—while allowing yourself the rest you need—you’ll step into the new year empowered and equipped.
The strategies you implement today—tailoring your resume, optimizing your LinkedIn, building meaningful connections, and setting clear goals—are the ingredients to building momentum in the January hiring surge. Balance your December with rest and reflection so you’re mentally and emotionally prepared for the opportunities that await in 2025.
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