It may surprise you to know the best time of year to look for a job is December. This seems counter-intuitive at first because employers are stretching their end-of-year budget and taking time off for the holidays. While this may be true, 95 percent of hiring managers surveyed by Accounting Principals said that job seekers should keep searching for a job at the end of the year.

The Competition Is Easier

If you have a resume that stands out, the best time of year to look for a job is December. A number of job seekers stop looking after the Thanksgiving holiday because they want to enjoy time with their families. This means that you can go for your dream job while the competition is enjoying the festivities. You can stand out from the crowd because the rest of the talent is away on holidays. Plus, some of the competition stops responding during the holiday season. If you respond to hiring managers, you will seem more proactive and more interested in the job.

Employers Are Allocating Hiring Dollars

The end of the financial year is when the budget is stretched thin. This also happens to be the time when the upcoming year’s budget is finalized. Employers are already planning on how they will fill those position ideally for a January start date. If your application arrives during December, it may be at the top of the application pile.

There Are Many Jobs Available

Because the new year is about to begin, hiring managers are already looking for the right candidates. These companies want to hit the ground running, so they need candidates who can fill the new role. The best time of year to look for a job is when hiring managers are searching for candidates. Right now is a great time to start connecting with recruiters.

Networking Is Easy During the Holidays

Many applicants are chosen before a job is even posted online. If you want to get a head start, you have to start networking to find potential jobs. During the holidays, you can easily network at parties and community gatherings. You can meet up with old friends and connect with new contacts. It is also a natural time for you to reach out to old colleagues or business acquaintances. While you should not mention your job search in your holiday greetings, you can tactfully bring it up after you have reacquainted yourself with a colleague.

Hiring Managers Are Feeling the Pressure

The competition may be easier for you, but the low number of applicants is a challenge for hiring managers. Recruiters want to find the right candidate, but many applicants are away on holidays. When the recruiter is under pressure to hire, a good candidate will stand out from the crowd.

Vacancies Are More Common

Many companies give year-end bonuses to their employees. If an employee is thinking about quitting, they might stick around just long enough to cash in on the bonus. When this happens, the employer then has an unplanned opening to fill. This means that they have more of a sense of urgency during December than at other times of the year. The lesson is to stay active in your search during the best time of year to look for a job. That perfect opportunity may be right around the corner.