Navigating Hiring During the Holiday Season: 5 Key Tips for Hiring Managers

Hiring during the holiday season presents unique challenges, from candidate availability to delayed decision-making. By planning ahead and maintaining engagement, hiring managers can successfully navigate the holiday slowdown and secure top talent.

1.??????? Plan Ahead for Candidate Availability:

The holiday season can cause significant scheduling challenges as many candidates take time off for family or travel. It's essential to plan interviews and follow-ups well in advance. A hypothetical scenario might involve trying to hire a VP of Operations in mid-November. You reach out to a promising candidate, but they inform you they will be out of town for Thanksgiving and Christmas. If you haven't planned ahead, the process could be delayed until January. By offering virtual meetings or scheduling interviews before the holidays, you can keep the hiring process moving smoothly. Flexibility is key.

2.??????? Adjust Timelines for Decision-Making:

Internal decision-making processes often slow down during the holidays due to key team members taking time off. This can be frustrating for candidates who expect quicker feedback. Imagine you're finalizing the hire of a CFO in December, but several decision-makers plan to be out during Christmas and New Year's. Delays in approval can cause the candidate to lose interest or accept another offer. To avoid this, it's important to set realistic expectations with the candidate and ensure that critical decision steps are completed before vacations begin.

3.??????? Highlight Culture and Work-Life Balance:

The holidays are an excellent time to emphasize your company’s culture, particularly around work-life balance. This is a period when many candidates reflect on their career goals and personal needs. If you’re interviewing a potential Controller in December and they express interest in better work-life balance, use the opportunity to highlight your company’s flexibility, generous time-off policies, and overall supportive culture. Positioning your company as one that values work-life balance can be an attractive selling point during a candidate’s job search.

4.??????? Keep Candidate Engagement High:

Lengthy gaps in the hiring process, common during the holidays, can lead to candidate disengagement. It’s important to maintain regular communication to keep top candidates interested. For example, you’re in the final stages of hiring a Head of Sales, but there’s a two-week gap in December due to holiday parties and team absences. To avoid losing the candidate's interest, make an effort to send periodic updates or check-ins. Even a quick email or phone call to reaffirm your interest can help prevent candidates from feeling forgotten or moving on to other opportunities.

5.??????? Use the Downtime Wisely:

If the hiring process slows down due to the holiday season, take advantage of the downtime to fine-tune your strategies. Use this period to refine job descriptions, update sourcing methods, and enhance onboarding plans. For instance, your team might struggle to coordinate interviews for a new Director of HR in December. Instead of waiting for things to pick up, shift your focus to strengthening the overall hiring process so you're ready to move quickly in January when both candidates and your team are fully available.

By anticipating holiday-related delays, staying flexible, and maintaining consistent communication, hiring managers can successfully navigate the challenges of hiring during the holiday season and keep top talent engaged throughout.