For many companies, hiring hits a pause during the holiday season because of employee vacations and seasonal events. At the same time, HR departments are evaluating annual budgets and finalizing plans for the new year. With all the year-end craziness, it’s no surprise most job seekers view December as the ultimate “passive” month in their search.

Sure, December probably isn’t when you’re going to book a ton of interview dates, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still use what’s left of 2018 to gear up for the search ahead in 2019.

Here’s the list we recommend checking twice before 12/31:

Network

Now’s the time to leverage your connections. All those seasonal events we mentioned above? Check them out. Company holiday parties and networking events are usually some of the most well-attended of the year. Are you a member of a professional organization? Now’s a great time to join! Spirits are brighter than usual this time of year, so make the most of it and grow connections.

Update Your Resume

Think about it this way: your resume is how you tell your career story. Do you want people reading your most recent chapter or do you want them scrolling through your old stuff? More often than not, job seekers land their next role and they don’t add it to their resumes. Instead, think of this document as a living breathing thing. Show your resume some love before Jan. 1, and ease into the new year knowing from here on out all you have to do is press “send”.

Update Your LinkedIn + Your Headline

Your LinkedIn headline is the first thing viewers notice, apart from your picture, when your profile pops up in their feed. Give them a reason to stop scrolling! Most people simply use the default job title headline, but you can also use this space as an opportunity to highlight your skillset or specialization, incorporating industry keywords as appropriate. You have 120 characters to play with – make ‘em count! Beyond the headline, make sure when they click on your page, they see what you want them to see. Like your resume, your LinkedIn profile is a living breathing reflection of your career story.

Collect References

Not all jobs require reference checks, but similarly to your resume, it always pays to be prepared. And remember: be sure to ask the person you’re listing if they’re comfortable acting as a reference for you.

Meet With a Recruiter

Going the search alone is a daunting thought – luckily, you don’t have to. No matter where you are in the job search, our recruiters are here to coach you through each step along the way.

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Time is money. Why wait? Start tackling your New Year’s goals NOW. To learn more about partnering with one of our industry-specialized recruiters, chat us anytime by clicking the little purple icon in the lower right-hand corner of your screen.