​It can be tempting to put off the thought of hiring until the new year. There’s a sweeping generalisation that people aren’t searching for new positions in December, or even November, but you’ll be surprised how many people are looking to be in and settled in a new role before the Christmas festivities kick in.

In fact these pre-Christmas candidates are often untapped potential as companies fall into the “I’ll start hiring in January” mindset on the run up to the holidays. 

Here are 5 reasons, why you should be thinking about your new hires before the Christmas holidays this year: 

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1) Be ahead of the game

Your competitors are probably waiting until January to begin their recruitment process. Let’s face it, it’s an easy thing to put off until the new year but engaging these candidates means you're one step ahead.

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2) Smooth transition into the company culture 

December is an exciting time of the year for any company; more than likely there are events, parties and competitions being organised all over the place, which means any new starters will soon establish themselves within the company. 

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3) Start the new year fully prepared

It’s tempting to put off the hiring process until January; but imagine the relief when you set foot in the office after the New Year and your team is up and ready to hit the ground running. You’ll be putting yourself in a great position. 

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4) Relieve the January stress

There are always plenty of things to do after Christmas; tick one thing off your list before the New Year and allow more time for other 2018 focuses. 

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5) It’s not just hiring managers that are busy in January 

Candidates often have extended holidays throughout January, which might mean you’ll be looking at the end of February or even March for getting the right person in and started. Not to mention the heavier work- load after the time off might mean less flexi-time for interviews.