Anthony Gaenzle 
It's December, one of the most wonderful times of the year and one of the arguably best times of year to look for a job.
Depending on where you live, there's likely a bit of a nip in the air. You might even look out your window and see snow on the ground. Just because the temperatures have cooled down and Jack Frost has made his first wintry appearance, doesn't mean you should also cool down your job search.
December can actually be a lucrative time of year for many job seekers, and if you stop your job search, you'll likely be missing out on some of those opportunities. So light a fire in the fireplace, grab a blanket and your laptop, and get comfy; it's time to start doing some December job searching. Here are a few reasons why December is the best time of year to look for a job.
Leftover budget
Much like the leftovers from your holiday dinner, leftover dollars in the company budget are too tempting to let go to waste. Companies often have wish lists when it comes to positions they'd like to fill, but often those positions aren't listed during the course of the year because it's not clear whether there will be enough wiggle room in the budget to bring on another salary.
As the year draws to a close, however, the dollars left over from the original budget become more clear. This allows companies to consider opening up those positions that would be highly beneficial to them, but which they previously were unsure they'd be able to afford. Keep an eye out for these types of positions that open up as the end of the year looms.
Volunteering builds connections
An increase in volunteer opportunities is another reason that December is the perfect time to apply for jobs. Think outside of the traditional networking scene and consider how you can do good while also building connections. December is the season of giving, and many companies create volunteer opportunities to help out their community (and the world) in a variety of wonderful ways.
Your first priority in volunteering for one of these opportunities should be to make a positive difference in the world, so don't just volunteer for the sake of networking. Make sure your heart is in the right place. Once you've determined that, however, it's perfectly fine to do some networking while you're doing good, and you'll even have a leg up on the competition because those with whom you network will see the good deeds you're doing. You'll score points right off the bat.
Easier to connect to hiring managers
Aside from summer, December is arguably the time of year when most people opt to use their vacation hours. While you may be tempted to do so as well, if you are serious about your job search, you'll hold off until the new year and focus on contacting hiring managers, submitting applications, and perfecting your resume instead.
Why? Simple. With so many employees out of the office, hiring managers have more time to answer emails and phone calls. They also have more time to pay attention to the details in your resume. Take this time to reach out to hiring managers responsible for filling the positions to which you applied. You'll be much more likely to get a response, and there's a good chance your ambition will be rewarded.
Quitters
Surprisingly or not, many people choose to quit their jobs or leave for other opportunities near the end of the year. Whether it's waiting to receive their holiday bonus and then bailing out, not wanting to return to the office after a vacation, or moving on for greener pastures in the new year, jobs that weren't previously open tend to become open during this time of year.
An unexpected employee departure can leave a company scrambling to fill the void. Positions like these are hot, and employers often look to fill these as soon as possible because not doing so can put the company behind in whatever area was left vacant. Keep an eye out for these last-minute openings and take advantage of others' dashes for the door.
Showcase your tenacity
While many job seekers give up and instead choose to use December as a time to relax and shrug off the worries of the year, it's in your best interest to keep up the hard work because of what it says about you and your personal brand. You may not consider this, but employers will see your continued effort as tenacious and view you as a go-getter. Tenacious go-getters are the types of people most companies want to hire.
Showing that you aren't the type to become complacent and give up on your search creates a positive impression in the minds of employers. Take advantage of this trend, but be sure to stay on the tenacious side of the fine line between tenacious and desperate. Too many phone calls or emails can cross that line and paint you as a desperate, annoying job seeker instead of a potentially tenacious, go-getter type of employee.
Search away, but keep this in mind...
The moral of the story is that it pays to continue your search well into and throughout the entire month of December. Employers are definitely hiring during this time, and you can easily miss out by giving up.
Be careful, however, not to jump on the first thing that comes along. If a job you're offered in December isn't the right fit, you don't have to take it. Analyze the offering and determine whether the money, the role, and the company culture are the right fit for you.
You can't force something that just isn't right. If you find a job in December, but it doesn't feel right or just isn't a fit for some reason, it's OK to decline the offer and hold out until the new year.
Finding a job or transitioning to a new job can be a difficult thing. Searching for a job is never truly an enjoyable activity, but if you ignore the potential to find a job in December, your job search process may end up dragging out much longer than you'd hoped. So why not continue the search through December? There are lots of opportunities, and you don't want to let the perfect job slip away because you believe the hype about winter-month hiring.
Is your resume ready for the new year? Not sure? Figure out with a free, objective resume critique today!