Are you planning on hiring in the new year? What are you waiting for? If you are planning on hiring in a few weeks or even a few months, why not get a head start now?
While it’s common for companies to put a freeze on hiring over the holiday, doing so could do more harm than good. If you started your search now, you’d be in a position to have your new employee on board and contributing early in 2024.
However, if you hold off and don’t start your recruiting until January, It’ll be one additional task you’ll need to prioritize. Plus, it could be weeks or months before they are ready to start their new role. This holds true across all of our practice areas and our legal recruiters provided some recommendations on why you should get started now. Here’s why:
Capitalize On Talent Availability
Top candidates may be actively seeking new opportunities throughout the year, and delaying the hiring process could result in losing out on qualified talent to competing firms. In addition, many people see the pending holiday season & new year as a time for personal reflection and may be more open to contemplate career change.
You Can Gain A Competitive Edge
By initiating the hiring process early, companies can gain a competitive edge by securing the best candidates before other businesses ramp up their hiring efforts in the new year.
Do Training and Onboarding Over the Holidays
Things tend to slow down around the holiday as people wrap up for the year. Planning ahead allows for a smoother onboarding process. Starting early provides ample time for training and integration, enabling new hires to become productive members of the team more quickly. Use the downtime over the holiday to get new hires acclimated to their new role.
There Could Be Market Changes
The job market is dynamic, and waiting until January might mean missing out on potential hires due to changing economic conditions, industry trends, or shifts in candidate availability.
Align Hiring With Strategic Planning
Companies can align their hiring with strategic goals and business plans by starting the process early, ensuring that the workforce supports the organization’s objectives from the beginning of the year. If you have upcoming projects or initiatives that require additional workforce, starting the hiring process early ensures that the team is in place and ready to contribute when needed.
The Impact on Employee Morale
A well-staffed and efficiently functioning team contributes to positive employee morale. Delaying the hiring process can lead to increased workloads on existing employees, potentially affecting job satisfaction.
You Have More Time
You never know for sure how long it will take to find the right person. It could take weeks or it could take months. The earlier you start the process, the more time you are giving yourself to find a new hire.
An early start also allows companies to proactively build talent pipelines, establishing relationships with potential candidates and reducing the time-to-fill when positions open up.
Starting the hiring process now, rather than in January, enables companies to tap into a broader pool of talent, stay ahead of the competition, and align their workforce with strategic goals. If you need assistance with hiring or recruiting, our legal recruiters are happy to help. Reach out to us to hire better.
Get More Hiring Process Tips From Our Legal Recruiters
Employee Retention Rates are Increasing, But Why?
