It’s that time of year again when the holiday season is in full swing. As people step away from their work to celebrate with family and friends, it can seem like the hiring process gets put on hold. Our executive recruiters, however, say it’s an optimal time for candidates to continue the search and leverage any downtime they might have to set themselves up for success in 2024.

So if you’re a job seeker, we have some pro tips on how to stay focused through the end of the month and into the new year. Here’s a checklist to help you stay on track and remain proactive and motivated.

Update your résumé

A lot happens in a year. Now is a great time to review your résumé and update it with any new skills you’ve acquired or career changes you’ve made. Need help crafting it? Here’s the perfect résumé, according to Harvard career experts. Need to simply refresh it? Take a page from organizing guru Marie Kondo‘s book. Her trademark method of holding each item and asking yourself whether or not it sparks joy can actually be applied to your résumé. Here’s how to clean it up.

Revisit your goals and rewrite new ones

If you made goals at the beginning of this year, revisit them. What did you accomplish? What were you unable to achieve that you wish you had? A new year offers us all an opportunity to dream big. Make goals. Chart a course for yourself that will make you feel happy and fulfilled in 2024 and beyond.

Bring your magic to the interview process

Just because it may seem like everyone is on vacation, doesn’t mean that hiring needs are put on pause. Whether you have interviews lined up for the immediate future or scheduled for 2024, it’s a great time to practice and research so that you’re ready when the time comes. First impressions matter.

“Go into every interview and networking conversation with a lot of energy and having done your research,” says ForceBrands’ Senior Executive Recruiter Jen Tierney. “In a competitive job market, oftentimes what separates the top candidate from the rest of the pack is not work experience or hard skills but rather the energy they exude and level of preparation they’ve done going into an interview.”

Check in with your mentors

While you might think the holidays are a time when everyone’s too busy to respond to emails or calls, it’s important to remember that it’s the season of connectivity. The holidays are a great time to check in with your mentors. Drop them a line to say happy holidays and build a conversation from there. Ask them for their advice as it relates to your own career. Stay connected and engaged.

Interested in kickstarting your job search? Connect with one of our Executive Recruiters or explore our online job board.

ForceBrands offers end-to-end hiring solutions for all stages of growth. Whether you’re just starting to hire or are looking for the next step in your career, we’re here to help you be a positive Force that makes an impact.

This article was last updated in November 2023