No One Is Going To Read This

It never fails, December is one of the busiest months for me and has been throughout my career. Since my first job in recruiting I have heard it every year from hiring managers, clients, candidates and co-workers. No one hires in December, candidates stop looking, and December is the slowest month of the year.

To those claims I say BAH HUMBUG!!

My first year in recruiting was spent working for an agency placing mostly contract labor with some direct hire placements. Back then we called them perm placements but over the years we have had to drop the word “perm or permanent” because someone might sue us for not really permanently employing them. I digress. I was told that first year to not expect any placements in December and yet I finished out the month with double digit placements and one direct hire. My own personal Christmas bonus! The same was said the second year and yep double digit placements again. But it wasn’t just me, everyone in our office had a solid month.

When I became a Corporate recruiter I was told that no one will hire in December. Yeah right. Then why was I working like the young Ebenezer Scrooge (you know, when he was a happy guy, working hard because he loved it and still had a soul) in the office while everyone else was kicking off for the holiday, doing their on-line shopping or spending the day socializing and trading cookies/gifts?

I know why, because even though the business may slow down during December recruiting never stops. It could be that these managers need to fill the open job of 200 days before 12/31 or lose it in their budget, or that they need to have someone start right after the first of the year when the budget opens up and they can start work on their projects. It is also because people resigned in order to start their new year off with a new employer and now the manager is in a bind and needs someone asap. I could go on but you all know and have heard the reasons.

Every year as the holiday approaches I fall for it, I start believing what is being repeated over and over, and begin to think that maybe I too can do some holiday shopping on-line, or socialize a day away but it never comes.

When I pulled into the parking garage this morning and saw it practically empty I figured maybe this year will be different. Nope – I have taken 15 minutes to write and post this blog that no one will read because you are not in the office or you are like me and my team, slammed with reqs to fill, interviews to schedule, offers to extend all the while stressing if you can get to a certain store to buy that last minute gift.

I will agree that there is one week when those claims do come true and that is the week between Christmas and New Years. That’s when I witness peace on earth.

Merry Christmas everyone and Happy New Year!

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Comment by Jerry Albright on December 23, 2010 at 3:15pm: Not that I read this or anything - but December has ALWAYS been a good month. I'm in my office right now working through a contract placement and feedback from another sendout that needs to be done by the end of the year.

Well - I am happy to be of assistance. But certainly looking forward to a very, very light schedule next week!

Have a Merry Christmas Mark! Don't work yourself to death..............:-)

Comment by Sandra McCartt on December 23, 2010 at 3:37pm: I'm the one who said nothing happens in December. Here i sit in my office, just closed a placement and getting feedback from an interview this morning. I didn't think i had an office in December, it was supposed to be a fignewton of my imagination. I didn't want to play.

So here i am not reading blogs, not looking at twitter, not working, not waiting on feedback or confirmation of interviews scheduled for Monday. So fine, Merry Christmas, i am not, repeat not going to read anymore resumes, i won't , you can't make me..hmmm that one looks kind of interesting..no...go back it's a trick!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I will never say nothing happens in Dec. ever again.

I will never say nothing happens in Dec. ever again.

I will never say nothing happens in Dec. ever again.

Comment by Sally Raade on December 24, 2010 at 12:57am: The fact that I'm not suppose to read this, makes me wonder if there's enough time for me to finish this comment. I agree with you on a couple of points: "recruiting never stops."

for various reasons you listed. I mostly wanted to wish you Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Comment by C. B. Stalling!! on December 24, 2010 at 11:53am: I just sent a manager 3 resume today on chrismas eve Merry Chrismas everyone

Comment by Rebecca B. Sargeant on December 26, 2010 at 5:21am: LOL ~

It's the day after Christmas and I am just now responding to the emails I got yesterday!!!

No rest for the wicked.

Happy Holiday!

Comment by Martin H.Snyder on December 29, 2010 at 2:14pm: Dec has been our biggest month of the year for 12 straight years and Dec 2010 our largest cash-in month ever. And this week is crazy; partner (and brother) had a new baby girl this AM (Bea Snyder, mom Laura) so I'm an uncle again, plus agreement after agreement going across my desk. I dont know about hiring, but recruiters are busy gearing up.

But always a minute to read an interesting blog post...