Top Jobs Being Hired For at the End of the Year
‘Tis the Season for End of Year hiring needs!
While many may think this is when hiring slows down at the end of the year, this is when the most urgent requirements can seem to come up at the drop of a hat – requiring AHOD (All Hands On Deck) attention.
In my 7.5 years of staffing, there are consistently the same FOUR common end-of-year needs hiring managers reach out for.
So what should you as a talent manager be looking for and what should you as a candidate be looking out for?
Do companies hire at the end of the year?
Yes, the end of the year an excellent time to take a proactive approach and position your business and teams for success for the upcoming year.
While the months of November and December typically slow down hiring-wise due to holidays and year-end projects reaching their conclusions, many employers are getting their new year staffing budgets approved and beginning to plan for new hiring at the start of the new year.
What are the most common end-of-year jobs being hired for?
Based on staffing and placement metrics, the top jobs companies are hiring for at the end of the year are digital designers, IT support technicians, software engineers and direct mail specialists.
1. Digital Designers
Whether it’s creating an end-of-year announcement, an email campaign about holiday specials, or someone who specializes in Powerpoint for EOY presentations about financial reportings, Designers are the #1 urgent requirement we see come through EOY.
For anyone in the design space, make sure your portfolio is up-to-date, clean, and has a diverse array.
Many of these projects are part-time or for a short breath of weeks so be sure to note if you’re available for freelance or part-time work.
For hiring managers who may need a designer, know you can fill out a form here to request some of Mondo’s active and proven talent available.
2. IT Support Technicians
Holidays are the time of year when things can seem to slow down, so why not make those desktop or IT upgrades you’ve been putting off all year?
For IT talent, be sure to have an updated resume available, and while we still see remote work available, many positions in the IT space are starting to require onsite again – especially in the infrastructure space.
For hiring managers, this is the perfect time not only to find individuals who can help with those 3-week re-imaging tasks or setting up new monitors in the office over the break but also to secure top talent for 12-18 month long contracts in the new year.
Many projects end at the end of December and the best of the best will be scooped up with their new contracts before the end of the year.
3. Software Engineers
Just like IT Support, many companies take December as the time to identify top Software Engineers to employ for their new year projects.
For candidates, make sure you have an updated resume and an active GitHub to show code samples.
There is never a shortage of Software Engineer needs so make sure you know what you want in your next job (ie permanent, contract, type of stack or technology are you looking to work with).
For hiring managers – while you and your team may be fried or it doesn’t seem like calendars are aligning, make the time if you have a New Year project you know you will need Software Engineers for to ensure you get the necessary talent before someone else does.
Mondo’s Consultant Relations team has already successfully redeployed at least 5 individuals I can think of off the top of my head from Software Engineers ending this year and securing them new positions either in December or January.
4. Direct Mail Specialists
December is a big time of year for needs in the Direct Mail Specialists space as many companies need extra employees to handle the influx of holiday mail and packages to ensure on-time delivery results.
As noted above, print designers are flash needs for last-minute advertisements or beginning-of-the-year notices, but even database specialists or direct mail project coordinators are a big EOY urgent requirement.
If you have experience in direct mail, make sure you highlight this in your resume and be specific on where your expertise is — are you in the marketing space or more in the operations space?
Important tips for end-of-year hiring
Get clear on your goals
What is the goal of this hire? Who will they report to and what sort of skills are needed in order to be successful?
Getting clear on these questions from the onset will help you stay focused and ensure you’re looking for the right person.
Identify the most high-impact positions
Once you get clear on what roles need to be filled, identify the ones that will have the highest impact either for the company or for its customers.
These are typically positions that require highly specialized skills and can make a big difference in terms of growth and customer satisfaction.
Determine your budget
Know your budget coming into end-of-year hiring. You’ll want to make sure you’re not overspending and that the hire is worth the expense.
If you’re not sure how much of your budget you should be dedicated to salaries, you can use resources like our annual Salary Guide that outlines average salary ranges across Tech, Digital Marketing, and Creative jobs nationwide.
Move fast
The end of the year is a prime time for both hiring managers and candidates to take advantage of.
Be prepared to act quickly when you find the right person, as they might not be available in January or even February. Keep your eyes open and don’t wait too long to make an offer.
Work with a staffing agency
Partner with a staffing agency that specializes in end-of-year hiring and have them help you identify top talent for your open positions.
With their industry knowledge, networking capabilities, and access to the latest job boards, an experienced staffing agency like Mondo can help you find the best candidates quickly.
End-of-year hiring trends
We’ve previously covered the best and worst time of year to find a job, and it’s important to note that end-of-year hiring is a great way to find the right team members for upcoming projects in the new year.
Some of the most in-demand roles include IT Support, Direct Mailing, Software Engineers, and Designers.
If you’re looking to hire quickly, remember to get clear on your goals, identify the most high-impact positions, determine your budget, move fast, and work with a staffing agency that specializes in end-of-year hiring.
By following these tips you’ll be sure to have a successful end-of-year hiring experience and set yourself up for success in the new year.
Looking to hire top-tier Tech, Digital Marketing, or Creative Talent? We can help.
Every year, Mondo helps to fill over 2,000 open positions nationwide.
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