Thinking of winding down your job search during the holiday season?
If the answer is yes, think again.
Contrary to popular belief and myths, the holiday season is a fantastic time to focus on career planning and prepare for a strong start to the new professional year.
4 Reasons to Keep Job Searching or Focus on Career Planning During the Holiday Season
Are you thinking about putting your job search or career planning on hold during the festive period? Think again!
Here are some compelling reasons to keep the momentum going:
1. Less Competition:
While others take a break, you’ll have fewer candidates to compete with, giving you a better chance to stand out.
2. Businesses and Recruitment Don’t Stop:
Many companies are still hiring, preparing for the new year, or filling last-minute vacancies. The holiday season is often quieter for internal teams, making it a great time to connect with decision-makers.
3. Informal Networking Opportunities:
The festive season is full of events, both online and in-person. Use these to expand your network, meet industry professionals, and open doors for future opportunities.
4. Stay Career-Focused:
Instead of completely switching off, dedicate some time to being creative and reflecting on your career goals, updating your resume, or learning new skills.
Keeping your professional mindset active now will set you up for success in the new year.
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How to effectively move your career plans forward during the holiday season
Now that you know why the holiday season is a good time to keep pushing forward in your endeavours to find that dream role, it’s time to set yourself a plan of action.
To help you along, here are a few tips.
1.Create a schedule
📍Career planning doesn’t have to take up all your time. So, if you’re worried it’s going to eat into your celebrations and holidays, don’t be.
📆 Instead, set aside time every day (30 minutes, an hour, or so ) to research job boards and send applications if ready.
2. Consider your career goals
To get the most out of your job search and, in turn, have career satisfaction, it’s essential to define what your career goals are. So, what better time to do it than during the holidays. Take this time to consider what it is you want from your next employer and career opportunity.
Not sure where to start?
🧩 Take our Career Quiz to assess your readiness and get personalised insights for your next step.
⏱️In just 4 minutes, assess your readiness to land your dream role next year and gain actionable insights tailored to your career goals and current circumstances.
3. Revisit and update your resume
Take advantage of the time you have during the holidays and update your resume and and LinkedIn profile.This is your chance to stand out amongst the minimal competition and position yourself for success in the new year.
🤖 Use AI tools like GPT to help brainstorm impactful wording, refine your accomplishments, or create tailored cover letters quickly. Just ensure to review and personalise the final output to reflect your unique voice and experiences.
💡 Don’t forget your LinkedIn profile—ensure your headline, summary, and skills reflect your latest achievements and career goals. A strong LinkedIn profile complements your resume and increases your visibility to recruiters and hiring managers.
4. Keep networking
The festive period is known for having plenty of networking opportunities, with several corporate events taking place.
Whilst you can’t gatecrash an office Christmas party, you may be able to tag along with a friend or partner to theirs or attend open events. You never know who you’ll meet!
🤝 Don’t forget to continue to network on digital platforms such as LinkedIn.
🔎Remember, some recruiters and hiring managers are still on the lookout for talent. So, start connecting.
5. Brush up on your interview skills
Now’s a better time than ever to brush up on your interview skills. Make the most of the time you have and practise mock interviews with family or a friend.
📝Prepare for a virtual interview by ensuring you have all the correct systems and tools in place.
🎥 Take our Solo Interview Practice Session and answer 6 tailored questions to sharpen your skills.
6. Take it one step further and upskill
Whether you plan to change career directions or take the next step up, if you’re super keen and have some time, learn new skills, expand, and update your knowledge on current and future tools and practices, or get a certification. It will help you stand out in front of prospective employers and against any competition.
There are plenty of online courses available. For instance, the Medical Technology Institute offers some great ones.
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Don’t forget to switch off
Whilst we bust the common myths surrounding job searching during the holiday season, if there is one thing the COVID pandemic has brought to light is how important self-care is.
So, bearing this is mind, put yourself, your overall health, and your family first.
Instead of running yourself to the ground, you may find it better to switch off during the holiday period from all things work.
Did you know LinkedIn Premium offers perks designed to help you do just that?
🧘4 Months of Calm: Boost focus, reduce anxiety, and improve sleep with this top-rated meditation app.
🗣️Up to 4 Free Therapy Sessions with BetterHelp: Access mental health support via chat, phone, or video call.
Make the most of these benefits to enter the new year relaxed, recharged, and ready to go.
And instead enter the new year relaxed, recharged, and ready to go.
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Are you looking to assess your career readiness for your next role?
Start by taking our Career Quiz and gain instant personalised insights to help guide your next steps and a roadmap for success.
Let’s plan your next career move together.
📞 Call us on +61 2 7912 1168
📅 Or Book a Call via Calendly to schedule a call when that suits you best - without any phone tag!
And are easy to reschedule :-)
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Get ready to kick start your new year on the right foot with the Medtech career opportunities available at DukeMed.
Don’t see the perfect role today?
No problem—our opportunities are constantly evolving.
Set up job alerts or stay connected with our talent community to be the first to hear about roles that match your expertise.
Prepare for new opportunities in the New Year with DukeMed
*This article was originally published in December 2021 as “Job Searching During the Holiday Season.”
It has been updated in December 2024 to reflect a stronger focus on career planning and incorporate new tools and insights.