Are you Recruiting in December?

Article by Francesca Hedger , Business Manager for Creative and Marketing at dSb Recruitment Consultancy Ltd.

As I write this article on not just any Friday afternoon, but a Friday afternoon that just happens to be the 1st of December and also the day after the dSb Xmas party, I won’t lie, the struggle to get motivated is real! Particularly when everyone in the industry is now in full on Xmas mode – but it got me thinking, what are the advantages of staying active in the recruitment market during December?

And let me tell you, there are plenty, but I’m going to share what I think are the key ones for businesses to consider when thinking about when to start hiring for 2024:

1.???? Securing the best available talent – I can’t tell you how many times I’ve said in 2023 that good candidates will get snapped up quickly, and this could not be truer in the run-up to Christmas. Those gems of candidates who are really serious about making a move WILL interview and accept offers in December, and you don’t want to be fighting over all of that top talent come January when every business pushes the button on their 2024 hiring plans.

2.???? You might have more time on your hands – in most of the industries that we work in at dSb, the Xmas rush has already taken place internally, particularly in the run-up to Black Friday, so actually December can be a great time to put your feet up, catch up on your admin and start to think about what you might start doing in January. Now could be the perfect time to interview candidates whilst things are a bit quieter, or get us looking for some great people for your 2024 hires, rather than holding off until January. I’ve even had some examples in the past where companies have got new starters in December so that they can onboard before the January rush and get involved with Christmas socials to embed into the team. This has always worked really well and meant candidates feel settled and can hit the ground running come January.

3.???? Getting new starters set for Q1 – at some senior levels, many candidates will be on a 3-month notice period. If you start interviewing them now, they’ll be in with you by the end of March. However, if you hold off meeting them until January, they won’t be with you until the end of April, and into the start of the new financial year. Not to mention that they could also get snapped up by a competitor in the meantime!

So my top tips for December when thinking about hiring for 2024, are don’t delay and use December wisely! That absolutely means mulled wine, Christmas parties, and lots of mince pies but also taking the time to continue full steam ahead with recruitment will help January to feel much calmer and more organised on the recruitment front!