Why December is the Perfect Month to Find Talent

Think December is dead in terms of recruiting and hiring people? Think again.

You don't stop calling on potential customers and clients to close new business just because the year is winding down. Then why does recruitment efforts seem to come to a halt the moment the holidays roll around? Any good salesperson would tell you December is the best time to close business.

The hiring and sales process have much in common. Both require you to identify your target and be relentless in your pursuit.

I get that you may be feeling exhausted. 2019 has been one of the toughest hiring environments in recent memory. Perhaps you're frustrated that you've recently had a couple of job offers turned down or that your number one choice received a great offer and took herself out of the running before you could set up your next round of interviews.

I've had all of those feelings and more when I was a hiring manager. It wasn't until I changed my approach to hiring that I began to see results. I realized that if I wanted someone to choose me as their employer, I had to show them I'd go to the ends of the earth to get them on my team.

Here's the plan I used that resulted in some of my best hires ever.

1. I made a list of people I wanted to hire. I then prioritized this list and focused my efforts on my top three candidates.
2. I asked everyone in my network if they knew the people on my list. If they said yes, I asked them for an introduction. I made it easy for them to introduce me. I prepared a compelling introduction that resulted in a lot of people agreeing to speak with me.
3. I doubled my efforts in December, knowing that people were more apt to answer their phones during the holidays. They were also more agreeable to meeting with me for a cup of coffee, especially if their boss went on holiday early, which happens a lot at year-end.
4. I had meaningful conversations with everyone I met. Rather than focusing on me and my needs, I focused on them. I asked questions that made them think. Questions like, How fulfilled do you feel in your current job? How excited are you to come to work every day? Are you where you thought you'd be in your career? If not, where would you like to be, and what's your plan to get there?
5. I listened, more than I spoke. And you know what? People quickly realized that they meant more to me than just some quota I was trying to fill so I could close out my year strong.

Then something completely unexpected happened. People started to refer candidates to me. I took every call without hesitation. As my reputation as a caring hiring manager grew, so did my network. My stress levels declined, and I found myself loving my work even more than I thought was possible.

There are many great candidates out there, waiting for your call. Many of these people may not be available come January. Pick up the phone. Send them an InMail through LinkedIn. Do something to get the conversation started. Do this today!

© Matuson Consulting, 2019. All Rights Reserved.

Schedule a call with me to discuss how to hire great people in half the time with half the effort. Send an Email to Roberta@matusonconsulting.com and we'll coordinate calendars.