Stop Treating Talent Like Leftover Turkey: Why Waiting Until January to Hire Is a Recipe for Disaster

Hey, Subscribers!

Ah, Thanksgiving—a time for turkey, pie, and… recruiting? That’s right, while you’re thinking about the feast on your table, your competitors are thinking about filling up their teams with the best talent.

Let’s face it: if you snooze on your recruitment efforts, you’re setting yourself up for a post-holiday horror show that could make even the most seasoned turkey look overcooked. But fear not, dear reader! It’s not too late to carve out a winning hiring strategy this year. Here’s why you should dive into the talent pool now instead of waiting for the New Year’s hangover.

Talent is Like Pie – The Best Kind Go Fast

Picture this: You’ve waited patiently until everyone has served themselves Thanksgiving pie. When you finally make your move, all that’s left is the crust. Don’t let that be your talent pool! By launching your recruitment efforts in Q4, you’ll scoop up that top-tier talent before your competitors even set the table.

These passive candidates are the hidden gems of the job market. While most hiring managers are stuck rummaging through a barren pantry, our seasoned recruiters have cultivated relationships with these unicorns across various industries. We know exactly where to find them—while others are still hunting for leftovers!

The Hiring Market Doesn’t Take a Holiday

We know what you’re thinking—“But it’s the holidays, everyone’s off!” Sure, but guess what? The top talent is still out there , and they’re making moves.

January feels like waking up from a Thanksgiving food coma. Everyone has grand plans but is slow to execute. Q4, on the other hand, is bustling. Companies have budget leftovers (pun intended) that need to be spent, and hiring decisions are often quicker to make. Starting your 2025 hiring in Q4 of 2024 means you could have your dream team ready to roll by the time others are just shaking off their post-holiday haze.

As a retained search firm, we focus on a limited number of searches, giving you our undivided attention—just like the attention your mom gives to the turkey on Thanksgiving morning. We’ll invest time to understand your unique needs, so you won’t just get a platter of mediocre candidates; you’ll have a gourmet selection to choose from.

The Gift of Reduced Competition

While everyone else is busy figuring out how to baste their turkey, you can quietly dominate the recruiting market. Q4 is a strategic goldmine—fewer companies are aggressively hiring because they assume everyone is taking it easy. By acting now, you’ll have the competitive edge in landing top-tier candidates before the January rush.

It’s the Season of Giving (and Spending)

Many companies operate under a “use it or lose it” budget mentality at the end of the year. Got some leftover dollars? Spend it on expanding your team. Plus, hiring in Q4 allows you to kick off the New Year with a full roster of talent ready to drive your business goals without the lag of onboarding in January.

Avoid the "New Year, New Job" Stampede

January is notorious for the job-hunting boom. Everyone and their grandmother is either polishing their resumes or resolving to “find a better job.” But when January hits, you’re competing with everyone else doing the exact same thing. By starting in Q4, you avoid the post-New Year job-hunting stampede and have a shot at candidates who are eager to switch gears before the calendar flips.

Commitment to the Full Hiring Cycle (And All the Trimmings!)

If you want your new hire to make an impact in Q1, you’ve got to kick off the hiring process in Q4. Think of it as letting your turkey rest before you carve it. Starting now allows your new hire to build momentum and hit the ground running come January. That’s our specialty! With our laser focus on your needs and an exclusive list of hungry, passive talent, we’ll get the ball rolling before the last slice of pumpkin pie is served. We’re committed to you through the entire hiring cycle—from crafting a mouthwatering job description to ensuring a smooth onboarding process. Think of us as your recruitment sous-chefs, whipping up a recipe for success!

Bottom Line: Don’t Let Your Dreams of Growth Slip Away Like Last Year’s Fruitcake

If you want to stock your organization with top talent for 2025, partnering with an executive search firm like TurningPoint is your best option. This way, you can focus on what truly matters—enjoying Thanksgiving dinner with your family—while we handle the heavy lifting of talent acquisition. Don’t let this opportunity pass you by; because in the world of hiring, you snooze, you lose!

So, before you pass the cranberry sauce, let’s chat! Get your recruiting started in Q4, and you’ll be sitting at the head of the table come January with a full team of top talent ready to feast on success. The best candidates are just waiting for you to reach out, and trust me, they’ll be more exciting than Aunt Mildred’s mystery casserole!

Cheers!

Ken