Empower Your Clients’ Job Search During the Holidays

There is an emotional reality to job searching during the holidays; the season can amplify uncertainty and anxiety for job seekers—especially those navigating job loss, financial strain, or disruptions to professional identity. For many clients, this time of year brings heightened emotions such as grief, social comparison worry, guilt, or pressure to appear “okay.” For career development professionals (CDPs), this is our opportunity to empower our clients’ holiday job search.

Along with acknowledging and allowing space for our clients’ emotions, empowering our clients during the holidays involves:

• Normalizing slower energy levels.

• Validating mixed emotions around productivity and rest.

• Helping clients decouple self-worth from hiring timelines.

Strategic job search support must be paired with psychological safety. When clients feel emotionally grounded, they show up more confidently—and that confidence is often what converts conversations into opportunities.

Truth or Myth?

The holidays often feel like an odd time to job search. Many clients tell themselves, “I’ll just wait until January,” assuming employers aren’t hiring. This is a myth.

The truth is that the holidays do not signal a hiring freeze. They often present a hidden but valuable opportunity. Reduced competition, quieter inboxes, and increased openness to networking can give job seekers an unexpected edge.

As their career expert, you can help clients leverage the holiday season strategically to maximize visibility and remain top of mind with hiring managers and recruiters.

Why the Holidays Still Matter

The labour market does not pause for the holidays. According to Indeed Canada data reported by CityNews, the number of holiday job postings in Canada this year has increased by approximately 12% over lasts year.

For clients, this means opportunities still exist, particularly for those who remain visible, proactive, flexible, and efficient. Those who adapt to the season’s rhythm often gain momentum before competition in January intensifies.

Insights Most Job Seekers are Not Aware Of

Here are lesser-known insights that can help clients stay motivated and maintain job search momentum:

1. Response rates often spike in December
People tend to be more receptive and emotionally warm during the holidays, making December one of the most effective months for networking outreach.

2. Hiring managers may have more availability
Many leaders wrap major initiatives by mid-December, leaving more time to respond to outreach and review shortlists.

3. End-of-year budgets can trigger surprise hires
Some teams must spend their remaining budgets before year-end, resulting in quick or unplanned hiring decisions.

4. Internal promotions accelerate
Clients who are currently employed may see internal opportunities emerge as teams reorganize ahead of January.

5. Application volume declines, increasing visibility
Research shows many companies receive significantly fewer applications between early December and early January. With less competition, candidates can stand out, receive faster responses, and be remembered more easily.

6. Recruiters build January interview lists in December
Early visibility can secure a spot in the hiring pipeline, even if interviews occur in the new year.

7. Seasonal roles often convert to permanent work
High-performing seasonal hires—particularly in retail, healthcare, logistics, and customer support—frequently receive full-time job offers.

Reframe “Momentum” as Sustainability, Not Hustle

The holiday season isn’t about hustle culture. It’s about intentional momentum.

Encourage clients to:

• Choose one primary job-search focus per week (networking, applications, branding, or learning).

• Create and follow a light, achievable structure rather than a rigid schedule.

• Measure progress through actions taken, not outcomes controlled by employers.

This approach protects energy, prevents burnout, and positions clients ahead of the January surge.

Expand the Concept of Visibility

Visibility goes beyond submitting job applications. It includes:

• Being remembered for curiosity, kindness, or insight.

• Showing up consistently in professional conversations.

• Demonstrating values alignment, not just qualifications.

December is a powerful month to showcase who someone is, not just what they do.

Additional strategies:

• Suggest clients create insightful posts on LinkedIn.

• Encourage skill-building or volunteer work.

• Support values-based career reflection during quieter weeks.

Five Strategies to Guide an Empowered Holiday Job Search

1. Treat the holidays like a marketing sprint
Refresh résumés, LinkedIn headlines, and a concise 2–3 sentence pitch. Clear, direct positioning helps busy hiring managers immediately understand value.

2. Apply to both seasonal and permanent roles
Seasonal work builds momentum and networks — and many January hires originate from December pipelines.

3. Use December timing strategically
Recruiters often schedule January interviews well before the new year. Acting now creates advantage.

4. Network with empathy
Short, warm outreach works best. Human, thoughtful messages build trust without sounding transactional.

5. Prioritize networking — December’s biggest advantage
People are more generous, inboxes are quieter, and fewer job postings mean relationship-building becomes even more powerful.

Nine Innovative LinkedIn Networking Strategies

According to LinkedIn, the holidays can be a wise time to invest in job search by optimizing your profile, reconnecting with your network, and sending thoughtful holiday messages, as many professionals are more open to conversations.

Indeed recommends using the holiday period to network intentionally, stay active on job boards, and prepare for hiring boosts in the new year, even when postings slow down.

Career experts also highlight the holidays as a good time to build brand visibility on LinkedIn, attend exciting events, and position yourself ahead of January hiring when competition spikes.

Most job seekers primarily use LinkedIn to apply for roles. You can give your clients a competitive edge by teaching them these underused but highly effective and innovative strategies:

1. The “Micro-Engagement” Method

Encourage clients to warm up a connection before messaging by:

• Leaving a thoughtful comment on a post.
• Reacting to a team win.
• Sharing someone’s post with a takeaway.

This strategy builds instant name recognition and increases reply rates.

2. Turn on the “Bell Notification” for Key Hiring Managers

When clients click the bell on a recruiter’s or leader’s profile, they get notified when that person posts. Comments made within 30 to 60 minutes on a key decision-maker’s post tend to rank higher — boosting visibility and algorithm placement dramatically. Early engagement signals to the algorithm that the interaction is valuable, leading to broader exposure and reach.

3. Use “Low-Stakes Ask” Messages

Instead of asking for a referral, your clients can send the following message, as an example:

“Hi Alex, I admire the work you’re doing at HubSpot. Would you be open to one quick question about your experience on the team?”

People respond more often to small requests rather than big ones.

4. Send LinkedIn Voice Messages

A 10–15 second voice note can make your client stand out immediately:

“Thanks for connecting, Maria. I’ve been following your work and really enjoy your insights. Hope your holidays are going well!”

It’s warm, memorable, and a rarely used way of connecting.

5. The “Comment-to-Connect” Formula

Teach clients this simple 3-step strategy:

1. Comment thoughtfully on someone’s post.
2. Wait one day.
3. Send a connection request referencing the comment.

Example:

“Hi Daniel — I loved your post yesterday about leadership. Your point on team communication really stood out. I’d love to stay connected.”

This statement feels natural and authentic, and not at all “salesy.”

6. Encourage Skill-Building During Quiet Weeks

Short, self-study LinkedIn Learning courses in Excel, customer support tools, social media management, or basic analytics (among many others) can provide résumé-ready content within days. However, skill building can also evolve from other meaningful avenues, such as volunteering. Volunteering enables clients to contribute to their community, drive a higher purpose, and engage with new people who can enrich their network.

7. Follow Up Politely

For a job seeker, a one-sentence nudge 7–10 days after applying for a job via LinkedIn can be the difference between being “forgotten” and being “shortlisted.”

8. Protect Energy and Celebrate Small Wins

Reassure your clients that they do not need to be laser-focused solely on their job search and networking on LinkedIn, as this can be daunting at times. This is especially true during the holiday season. Remind them to take care of themselves and alleviate their stress by suggesting they carve out some relaxation time during the holidays. Encourage them to make a habit of identifying their small wins as these can lead to significant positive change over time; one application, one message, one skill-building task a day, and a few new contacts can build great momentum.

9. Leverage LinkedIn “Creator Mode” to Build Thought Leadership

Encourage clients to turn on LinkedIn’s Creator Mode to highlight their content and expertise. They can:

• Share weekly micro-insights or lessons learned from past roles.
• Post polls to engage their network on industry trends.
• Use hashtags strategically to reach hiring managers or recruiters.

This positions them as a knowledgeable professional in their field, increases profile views, and invites organic connection requests — all without cold outreach.

According to LinkedIn, the holidays can be a wise time to invest in job search by optimizing your profile, reconnecting with your network, and sending thoughtful holiday messages, as many professionals are more open to conversations.

Indeed recommends using the holiday period to network intentionally, stay active on job boards, and prepare for hiring boosts in the new year, even when postings slow down.

Career experts also highlight the holidays as a good time to build brand visibility on LinkedIn, attend exciting events, and position yourself ahead of January hiring, when competition spikes.

Add a Strategy for Clients Experiencing Financial Pressure

Keep in mind that not all clients can afford to “wait for the right role.”

Clients under financial strain might consider:

• Short-term contract or bridge roles that maintain dignity and skill relevance.
• Seasonal work aligned with transferable skills (customer service, operations, logistics).
• Developing their stories so that they can talk about interim roles confidently in interviews.

Position these roles with your client as strategic choices, not setbacks.

Final Encouragement for Clients

The holidays don’t stop employers from hiring — they simply change its rhythm.

Clients who remain visible, send warm outreach, and build relationships during quieter weeks often enter January ahead of the crowd. The career seeds planted now can grow into interviews, referrals, and offers faster than expected.

The CDP’s Role: Cheerleader, Regulator, and Guide

During the holidays, career development professionals often serve as strategist, encourager, reality-checker, and emotional regulator.

This season calls for:

• Clear expectations.

• Gentle accountability.

• Ethical optimism grounded in labour market realities.

Your presence alone can help clients stay engaged rather than disengaged.

For more information on empowering your clients’ job search during the holidays, and all year round, explore CPC’s certification programs and courses.

– By Lori A. Jazvac and Ksenia Lazoukova – 

Image generated using ChatGPT.