Get ahead for January: Smart ways to use December to plan your next career step

Debbie Amankwa

The run-up to Christmas can feel hectic with deadlines, diaries, celebrations and trying to wrap up the year all at once. But once the out-of-office is finally on, December becomes something rare: a natural pause.

For many people, it’s the only time of year when life slows down long enough to reflect on where you are in your career and where you want to go next.

If you’re considering a job change in 2026, the festive break is one of the best times to get prepared, quietly, calmly, and without pressure.

Here’s how to use that downtime to set yourself up for a strong start in the new year.

1. Reflect on your year — honestly and without judgement

When you step away from your usual routine, you get clarity.
Ask yourself:

What parts of your job have energised you this year?
What drained you?
Did you grow, learn, and feel valued?
What would you change if you could?

You don’t need a full plan yet just awareness. Reflection is the foundation of every good career move.

2. Define what you want next

Once you’ve looked back, think forward. What does the next step in your career look like? Consider things like:

The type of work you want to be doing
The culture that suits you best
What you need more (or less) of
Progression, flexibility, leadership, development
The kind of company you want to be part of

Clarity now stops you wasting time applying for roles in January that don’t align with your goals.

3. Refresh your CV and LinkedIn profile while things are quiet

Early January is one of the busiest job-search periods of the year. Taking an hour over Christmas to:

Add this year’s achievements
Update your responsibilities
Highlight measurable results
Refresh your LinkedIn headline and summary

…means you’re ready to move quickly when hiring picks up.

4. Research the market for 2026
A little research now saves a lot of time later:

What industries are growing?
Which companies match your values?
What senior or specialist roles are emerging?
What skills will be in demand next year?

This helps you focus your search rather than applying reactively.

5. Set simple, realistic goals for January

Planning doesn’t need to be complicated. Your goals might be:

“Speak to a recruiter about market opportunities”
“Update my CV and start applying by mid-January”
“Look for leadership roles in X industry”

A few clear actions turn ideas into momentum.

6. Talk to a specialist recruiter

If you want confidential advice, especially at senior level, December and early January are ideal times to speak to a recruiter.
At Search & Select, we help candidates:

Understand the current job landscape
Match their experience to the right opportunities
Prepare for leadership interviews
Make career decisions with confidence

Sometimes one conversation is all it takes to get clarity.

Final thoughts
You don’t need to overhaul your career during Christmas, far from it. But using an hour or two of your downtime to reflect, reset, and prepare means that when January arrives, you’re already one step ahead.

If you’re thinking about a move in 2026, we’re here for a confidential chat whenever you’re ready. Register your CV or contact our team at searchandselect.com

Author: Debbie Amankwa

This top notch mid-level recruitment expert is also slightly obsessed with rugby and Formula 1. Did we mention beer? Debbie loves a cold beer.