Many job seekers treat November and December as a pause: the holidays are coming, budgets are closing, and it feels smarter to regroup and try again in January. This year, there are even more reasons to wait, with a “low-hire, low-fire” market and the November 3 midterm elections.
The data suggests that waiting may cost you more than it saves.
U.S. employers added just 29,000 jobs in September, and unemployment ticked up to 4.2%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. But underneath those headlines, demand is shifting. Indeed Hiring Lab’s October snapshot shows overall job postings almost 4% above pre-pandemic levels, and 68% of occupational sectors now have more postings than a year ago, up from 49% in early September.
Here’s how to fine-tune your search so the next 60 days count.
Why the end of the year is worth your effort
Job postings tend to climb in the fall, but applications don’t follow the same pattern. LinkedIn data reported by Fortune shows applications usually peak between January and May. That means a motivated candidate searching now may face fewer competitors for each opening. As LinkedIn economist Kory Kantenga put it, “If you’re having a hard time in February, it could just be February.”
Many companies also hire in Q4, so new team members can start in January, when new budgets and projects begin.
1. Aim where the postings are
Not every field is moving at the same speed. In Indeed’s October data, engineering postings are about 45% above pre-pandemic levels, healthcare about 31% above, and production and manufacturing about 24% above. Software development postings are still about 21% below. Data center postings have grown about 20% in just three months.
Pay is moving too. Posted wages are growing fastest in electrical engineering (+5.6% year over year) and IT systems and solutions (+4.7%), compared with 2.4% across all postings.
If your field is slow, look for adjacent roles where your skills carry over. A software professional might look at infrastructure, manufacturing systems or data center operations. A project manager in a slow industry might look at construction, energy or healthcare facilities projects.
2. Narrow your target list
In a selective market, sending more applications rarely beats sending better ones. Pick 10 to 15 roles that truly fit, then tailor each application to the job description’s language and lead with 2 or 3 measurable results. Our post on job searching in a low-hire, low-fire market goes deeper on how to stand out.
3. Tap the market that never gets posted
Some estimates suggest a large share of openings are filled before they’re ever publicly posted, through referrals, networks, and recruiters (Kiplinger cites estimates as high as 70% to 80%; read their tips here). Use the holiday season, when people are reconnecting anyway, to reach out to former colleagues, managers and clients. Keep it simple: share what you’re looking for and ask who they’d suggest you talk to.
A recruiter can help here too. Staffing firms often hear about roles before they post them, and a recruiter can advocate for you directly with the hiring manager.
4. Don’t let the midterms (or the holidays) pause you
Some employers are waiting. In a recent Express Employment Professionals–Harris Poll survey, 28% of companies that plan to keep or cut headcount said they’re waiting to see the outcome of government changes before hiring, and 28% of job seekers said politics has hurt their ability to find a job.
Whatever happens on November 3rd, many of those paused decisions will be made in the weeks that follow. Candidates who are already in a company’s pipeline, with an application in and a recruiter relationship started, are the ones who get the first calls when hiring restarts.
The same goes for the holidays. Hiring managers who are in the office in December often have more time to review candidates, and fewer people are applying.
5. Plan your 2027 pay conversation
Raise budgets for next year are expected to hold roughly flat. U.S. companies are planning average salary increases of about 3.4% in 2027, down slightly from 3.5% this year, according to WTW data reported by SHRM. With posted wage growth trailing inflation, changing jobs is still one of the most reliable ways to reset your pay.
Before you talk numbers, research the market rate for your role and location, decide on your target and your walk-away number, and think beyond base salary: remote or hybrid flexibility, PTO, training, and bonus structure can all be part of the package.
6. Use contract work as a bridge
Flexible roles are growing. Among large employers, part-time postings rose from 38% last year to 49% this year, according to Indeed data reported by HR Dive. Contract and contract-to-hire roles can keep income coming, add recent experience to your resume, and often turn into full-time offers. According to the American Staffing Association, 64% of staffing employees say they took that path to bridge a gap between jobs or to land one.
Your 60-day checklist
- Update your resume with your Q3 wins while they’re fresh
- Pick 10 to 15 target roles and 5 target companies
- Reconnect with three people in your network each week
- Set job alerts for the fields that are growing
- Talk with a recruiter about roles that haven’t been posted yet
And if the search is wearing you down, you’re not alone. Our post on job seeker burnout has practical ways to keep going without running on empty.
Ready to make your next move before the new year? Browse open roles or become an SSi Person, and let our recruiters help you find the right fit.