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Use the holiday lull as an opportunity to get ahead of the competition.
December is a month often marked by holiday time off and reviewing budgets, so it's easy to assume this isn't the best time of year to look for a new job.
But some HR experts say those factors, among other things, are actually why December is the ideal time to start a job hunt.
Of more than 500 human resources or hiring managers surveyed by Accounting Principals, a recruiting company under the umbrella of Adecco Group North America, 94% recommend job-seekers keep up their search through the end of the year.
If you're in the market for a new job, here's why you should start looking now instead of waiting until January:
1. There are plenty of jobs out there.
"Many people take off from work during December, so job seekers often take that as a cue that human resources professionals are out of the office and hiring comes to a halt in December," Joe Weinlick, senior vice president of marketing at Beyond, an online career network, tells Business Insider. "Based on our conversations with human resource managers, this is a myth."
While some people will tell you that no one wants to hire in December, Accounting Principals senior vice president Kathy Gans tells Business Insider that at this point many employers have anticipated their needs for 2016, and with their budgets set, they've already begun the search for candidates so they can hit the ground running in the New Year.
"To take advantage of this time, job hunters should connect with recruiters now to get on their radar ahead of the New Year rush," she says.
2. There's less competition.
From analyzing Beyond's member data, Weinlick says he sees a drop off in job seeker activity over the Thanksgiving holiday through the end of December.
"Most people want to take some time to enjoy the festivities and spend time with family," he says. "This naturally means less time spent focusing on work or looking for a job."
With other candidates taking a break from their job search during the holidays, Gans says it's easier to stand out from the crowd and get ahead of the game by January, when the rest of the talent pool is just making the decision to switch jobs.
"Be sure to keep up your conversations throughout the holidays," she advises. "Recruiters are more likely to place a candidate that has been in contact with them throughout the holidays than those who have been unresponsive."
(Ewen Roberts/flickr)
With other candidates taking a break from their job search during the holidays, it's easier to stand out from the crowd.
That means also keeping your schedule flexible.