While the month of December is a time to wind down and look forward to the holidays, many people also use it as a time to take stock of their careers. Whether they’re looking for a change of employer, or perhaps a change of industry – the end of the year is when thoughts turn to that next step.

However, most people don’t take real action until the New Year. The assumption is that December isn’t a good time to start the job hunt, as companies stop trading for the festive period and fewer people are in the office.

But that’s not necessarily the case in the Fibre industry, and in this blog we’ll outline why. Here are some reasons December is the time you should start looking for a role in Fibre.

Less competition

Many people take the time out from the job hunt in December, which means you can gain a head start. It’s always easier to stand out from the crowd when there are less people in that crowd! By being proactive and staying in touch with key recruiters, you’re giving yourself the best possible chance.

Companies are committed

If you work on fibre network projects, you’ll get a good break over the festive period. Companies are big on giving their people a good work-life balance, so will shut up shop for a week or two. At the same time, the hiring managers will remain on the lookout for quality CVs and candidates throughout December. Many of the businesses we work with are already preparing for 2023 and creating hiring plans. The network build projects are of such high importance, that they want to have interviews lined up as soon as they get back in January.

In a lot of other industries, you might send your CV to a recruiter during December, but it won’t get looked at by hiring managers until the following month. In the Fibre industry, CVs are looked at as soon as they are sent in, purely because of the urgency. It’s not uncommon for candidates to apply for a role halfway through December, and get interviewed in the first week of January.

When you combine that urgency from employers with the previous point about less competition – the chances of you finding fibre optic jobs over the next few weeks definitely increase.

Temp opportunities

Because of these clear and pressing hiring needs for January, there may be more opportunities for temp work than ever. If you’re immediately available – for example if your own contract has come to an end, or if you’ve taken a sabbatical which is now ending – make your recruiter aware. They can work quickly and may be able to get you placed on a temp to perm basis from January. This is where the role will initially be on a contract, but with the opportunity to be made permanent after it comes to an end.

More time on your hands

You might be working for a business that ceases trading for a while during December (this is usually the case if you’re already in Fibre). You might also have annual leave that you need to take before the end of the year.

This gives you the opportunity to focus on your job hunt. The extra bit of time is especially important if you’re looking to move into Fibre from a parallel industry. For example, many people who’ve had a successful Telecoms career find that there is a big demand for their skill set within Fibre.

This is good, but it means your application needs to be done in a different way to those who are already in Fibre careers. Make use of your reduced workload during December to craft the best possible CV and get in touch with specialist recruiters.

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More vacancies

It’s quite common that people leave their jobs at this time of year for their own fresh starts, or perhaps because their contracts expire. This inevitably opens up new opportunities for you. By getting your application in now, you’ll be fresh in the minds of hiring managers to fill the newly created gaps in their organisation.

Available budgets

In some cases, companies might have budgets that need to be used by the end of the year. If they have vacancies – and as you may have gathered from our earlier points, there are plenty of them within Fibre – then they’re likely to use the money on recruitment costs. This is another example of urgency and motivation from the employer’s side. You can use this to your advantage by putting yourself in front of them.

A final note….don’t wait for Blue Monday!

You’re probably aware that the second Monday of January is regarded as the most depressing day of the year. There’s lots of reasons for this – whether it’s the festive glow wearing off, the weather, or people realising that the jobs they’ve returned to aren’t what they want. Whether you think it’s a myth or not, you should know that it is an incredibly busy time on recruitment sites. Job applications shoot up and many hiring managers find themselves overwhelmed by CVs.

To link back to our very first point – the crowd gets a lot bigger at that point in the year. As good as you might be, this will hinder your chances of getting the job you want. It’s a lot better to maximise the free time before Christmas to get your application in.

We’ve spoken before about how rapid the growth of the Fibre industry has been, and how many opportunities this has created for jobseekers. This has led to a big demand from candidates, so it’s important you give yourself every edge possible.

Often, we think about things like creating the perfect CV and cover letter, or saying the right things in an interview. But just as important is the timing of your job search. If you act now, you’ll find yourself at the forefront of every hiring manager’s mind.
 
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