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December hits, and the recruitment process suddenly feels like it’s been wrapped in tinsel and shoved under the tree until January. People are off. Calendars are chaos. You’re trying to squeeze in final interviews.
If you’re not keeping candidates warm, someone else probably is — or worse, they might decide to just press pause altogether and come back job-hunting fresh in the new year.
So, how do you keep candidates engaged over the holidays?
1. Don’t go silent — but keep it light
Ghosting candidates over the holidays is a quick way to lose momentum. That said, now isn’t the time to bombard people with long emails, technical assessments, or “urgent” follow-ups.
Instead, check in with short, friendly messages that let them know they’re still on your radar. A quick note like this goes a long way:
“Hope you’re getting a bit of a break — just wanted to say we’re still really interested and we’ll be back in touch in the new year. Enjoy the downtime!”
They’re not being chased, but they’re not forgotten either.
2. Be honest about timelines
If your business is effectively on pause between mid-December and January, say that upfront. People appreciate clarity.
Tell candidates when to expect updates — and stick to it. If you know final interviews can’t happen until the second week of January, say so, and avoid vague promises like “We’ll be in touch soon.” Set the expectation now and avoid frustration later.
3. Add a little festive flair
If appropriate, a personal or festive touch can make a difference — especially if you're in later-stage conversations with a candidate.
That could be as simple as a “Happy Holidays and thanks again for your time this year — we’re excited to pick things back up in January!” or even a branded e-card or small gesture (if that’s your thing).
Just keep it human.
4. Give them something to look forward to
If you're pausing the process, tell them what to expect next — and ideally, get something on the books. Even pencilling in a mid-January call gives them something solid to hold onto.
If you can’t set a date yet, you can still say:
"We’ll be in touch during the week of 8th Jan with an update — enjoy the break and thanks for being so patient!"
The goal is to avoid that awkward limbo where they’re not sure if they’re still in the running or if it’s all gone cold.
5. Stay visible (even if you’re not hiring)
If you’ve had to hit pause on hiring altogether, that doesn’t mean disappearing. Keep your brand warm on LinkedIn, share a festive behind-the-scenes post, or highlight a candidate success story from earlier in the year.
Even passive visibility reminds candidates you’re still active, and still worth keeping an eye on — even if the process is on hold until January.
The holidays are a weird time for recruitment. Everyone’s juggling diaries, winding down, and quietly wondering if they should actually send that interview follow-up on the 22nd of December.
As an employer, your job isn’t to chase — it’s to stay human, stay clear, and stay visible. Keep your top candidates warm without freezing them out or turning them off.
Come January, you’ll be glad you did.