Holiday Networking: Don’t Press Pause on Your Job Search

By Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter

The end of the year rolls around, and what do most job seekers do? They hit the pause button. They buy into the myth that the entire corporate world stops for eggnog and tinsel until January 5th.

That is a huge mistake. A colossal error in judgment.

I’m Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter, and I’ve spent decades in recruiting and career coaching. Let me tell you straight: the holidays are NOT the time to take your foot off the gas. They are the single best time for smart, targeted job search networking.

Why? Less competition, more access, and a better mood all around.

The Competition is Taking a Break

Think about it. While everyone else is procrastinating and telling themselves, “I’ll start fresh in the New Year,” you have an open lane. That wave of applications that hits recruiters and hiring managers in January? You get to skip it.

Fewer applicants mean the applications you do submit now are more likely to get noticed. Your LinkedIn connection requests stand out. Your follow-up messages don’t get buried under a pile of a hundred other people just starting their search. Being proactive now gives you an enormous competitive advantage.

The Opportunity: Relaxed Access

The holiday season is filled with social and professional gatherings. Company parties, industry mixers, alumni events, or even casual get-togethers with friends and family—these are all non-traditional networking events. People are generally more relaxed, more open to conversation, and less focused on being “busy.”

You don’t want to be the person hunting for a job beneath the mistletoe. That’s a rookie move and an instant turn-off. The goal is simple: build genuine connections.

Here’s how to do it without being aggressive or turning people off:

• Be a Human, Not a Pitch Deck: Focus on the person. Ask genuinely curious questions about them: “What was your biggest professional win this year?” or “What’s your company most excited about for Q1?” Listen intently. That’s how real relationships are built.

• The “Soft Mention”: When they inevitably ask what you’ve been up to, you transition smoothly. Don’t launch into your whole resume. Keep it brief, positive, and forward-looking. “I’m currently exploring new opportunities in the fintech space, specifically roles where I can leverage my experience in compliance and risk mitigation. It’s exciting to look at how different firms are approaching the challenges ahead.” That’s a clear, professional value proposition delivered without desperation.

• Targeted Outreach on LinkedIn: Use the quiet time when many are offline to your advantage. Reach out to key people at your target companies. Send a warm, thoughtful message, not a form letter. Reference a recent article they posted, a common connection, or a company milestone. Wish them well for the season, and offer to schedule a brief informational interview in early January. You are positioning yourself as a top-of-mind candidate for January hiring needs.

Leveraging Year-End Urgency and Budget

People assume all hiring stops. Wrong. Companies often have year-end budget money they need to spend. If a department has a critical role and “use it or lose it” money, they accelerate recruitment to get that person in the door, even if it’s for a January 1st start.

Don’t assume; ask. When you are talking to your network, a natural question after a good conversation is, “Do you know of any teams that are ramping up for Q1 projects or looking to use up any final budget before the end of the year?”

The Follow-Up is the Gold

This is where 90% of job seekers fail. They have a good conversation and then vanish.

You need to follow up promptly and professionally.

• 24-Hour Rule: Within 24 hours of meeting someone, send a personalized message via email or LinkedIn. Thank them for the conversation. Reference something specific you discussed (not related to the job search, but to them). “It was great hearing your perspective on the future of AI in logistics—fascinating stuff.”

• Offer Value: Can you introduce them to someone? Send them a relevant article? Always look for ways to pay it forward. Give-to-get networking is the only kind that lasts.

• Set the Next Step: If you discussed connecting further, propose a date in the New Year. “I’d love to circle back in mid-January for a 15-minute chat about the new product launch at your firm. Would that be possible?”

Don’t be a sheep and wait for January. The holidays are a gift to the savvy, persistent job searcher. Be direct, be prepared, and be genuine. Get out there and build the relationships that will land you your next great role.

Ⓒ The Big Game Hunter, Inc., Asheville, NC 2025