Here are seven actionable tips from Recruitment expert Frances Li on how to win in peak hiring season:
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Move early
“Roles open in clusters rather than gradually in January,” Li explains. “Hiring managers want to see movement straight away. Candidates who wait to perfect their CV or hold out for ideal timing often miss the most active window. Those who act early are assessed when urgency and attention are highest.”
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Clarity beats detail on CVs
“In January, recruiters aren’t reading CVs with curiosity — they’re scanning with intent,” Li says. “We’re looking for signals fast. Role alignment, recent impact and clear direction need to jump off the page immediately. Long introductions, vague objectives and unfocused experience simply don’t survive January screening.”
She adds: “Candidates who perform well lead with what they do, where they add value and why they fit this role now. Fresh, relevant results matter far more than long career histories during this period.”
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Generic applications fall away quickly
“High hiring volume changes how applications are judged,” Li notes. “When applications sound interchangeable, they tend to fail in January. Personalisation becomes the difference between being read and being ignored.”
“Strong candidates speak directly to the role in front of them and to the problem the business needs solved. They show an understanding of what the employer needs over the next six months, not just broad ambition. January rewards people who make decisions easy for hiring managers.”
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Make the fit obvious
“Employers don’t want to work out whether someone fits — they want to see the fit straight away,” Li says. “Clear motivation, closely aligned experience and direct language stand out immediately. Anything that requires interpretation slows momentum, and momentum matters in January.”
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Prepare for fast, compressed interviews
“January hiring moves quickly across interviews, referrals and final decisions,” Li explains. “Short gaps between stages expose weak preparation straight away. Candidates who succeed rely on structured answers, clear examples and specific outcomes. Precision and ownership are remembered far more than long explanations.”
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Visibility becomes a deciding factor
“Many January roles move through referrals and recruiter outreach before they’re ever advertised,” Li says. “Candidates who reach out, reconnect with contacts and signal availability show intent, and intent is often read as readiness in a fast-moving market.”
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Confidence in direction separates candidates
“Waiting for perfection slows momentum,” Li concludes. “January rewards early action, clear communication and confidence in direction. Candidates who show clarity and readiness rise quickly, while those who hesitate often watch opportunities pass by — even in a busy hiring market.”
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Keep AI screening and search tools in mind
“Hiring increasingly happens through AI-supported screening and search tools, particularly on platforms like LinkedIn,” says Frances. “Before a CV reaches a human, it often needs to pass automated filters that prioritise clear role titles, relevant keywords and recent experience.”
Li adds: “Candidates often lose visibility by over-designing CVs or using creative language that scanners don’t recognise. Clear job titles, consistent terminology and straightforward formatting perform better in January, when systems are processing high volumes at speed.”
“In a high-volume hiring environment, candidates need to be legible to both humans and systems,” Li says. “Optimising CVs and LinkedIn profiles for search and screening tools isn’t about gaming the system — it’s about removing friction so the right candidates are actually seen.”
