Last week, a friend of mine sighed deeply and said that their LinkedIn messages had completely stopped since the end of October, wondering if everything was over now that the year is ending.

I used to think the same way a few years ago. I thought that after Thanksgiving, companies would all close down and take a break. So that year, I postponed all my applications until January.

However, after landing a contract in December that year, my perspective changed a bit. A quiet period doesn't necessarily mean there are no opportunities.

So today, I want to explain why job searching in November and December isn't as bad as it seems, step by step with some numbers.

First, let's look at the current market atmosphere. According to data released by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development in mid-October, the unemployment rate for September was 4.3%.

This is the same level as the revised figure for August. The overall unemployment rate in the U.S. for the same month was 4.2%, which is an increase of 0.1 percentage points.

The number of jobs increased by 3,500 in September. However, since August saw a revised decrease of 5,600 jobs, it's honestly hard to say the market is booming. Seeing those numbers made me sigh a little too.

On a national level, the JOLTS report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed that job openings in August were at 7.1 million, remaining almost unchanged. The number of hires for the same month was 5.19 million.

The September JOLTS data is scheduled to be released on November 3, but this article is based on the most recent figures from August. It might be good to compare once the new numbers come out.

In summary, there are still job openings, but the hiring pace is relatively slow. In such a market, timing and the number of competitors can make a significant difference, just as much as skills do.

So why could the end of the year be advantageous? The first reason is that the number of competitors decreases.

Many people, like me, think that nothing will happen at the end of the year and postpone their applications until January. Many recruiting firms also agree that the number of applicants noticeably drops in December.

Conversely, when January arrives, people who have made New Year's resolutions flood in all at once. The speed at which resumes pile up for the same job posting changes completely. In that gap, it becomes much harder for my resume to stand out.

The second reason is about budgets. For companies whose fiscal year ends in December, there may be a desire to use the hiring budget they have set aside for this year before it expires.

There are managers who rush to fill positions because they fear that leaving them vacant might result in those positions being cut from next year's budget. Of course, not all companies operate this way.

Many companies have fiscal years that start in July or October, so I recommend checking the annual reports or IR pages of companies you're interested in to confirm their fiscal year.

The third reason is that recruiters and managers are surprisingly less busy. At the end of the year, new projects don't typically kick off, making it easier to schedule interviews. I've experienced quicker email responses a few times as well.

So the feeling that communication has completely stopped is likely due to a decrease in outreach efforts. It doesn't mean that hiring has come to a halt.

That said, you shouldn't just wait around. If it were me, I would submit my applications all at once within the first two weeks of November.

During Thanksgiving week and the period from Christmas to New Year, decision-makers tend to take a lot of vacations. It's comforting to have at least the first interview scheduled before then. That way, my name stays on the candidate list even during the holidays.

Next, I would send a short message to the recruiters I haven't heard from. Adding a line about something memorable from the work they did this year seems to significantly increase the chances of getting a response.

When applying, make sure to check the posting date. If a job was newly posted in November, it might be a position they want to fill before the year ends, so it's worth prioritizing.

Year-end networking events can also be surprisingly fruitful. Information exchanged at company holiday parties or alumni gatherings, where everyone is a bit more relaxed, can be quite valuable.

Make sure to update your resume and LinkedIn profile this month. Having your achievements quantified will also be useful during salary negotiations.

However, you should be aware that decisions may take longer at the end of the year. It's common for final acceptance notifications to extend into January, so it's best not to rush.

And if you're preparing to switch jobs while currently employed, be sure to check the year-end bonus payout date. Adjusting the timing of your offer acceptance just a bit can help you avoid missing out on that bonus.

These days, I keep a handful of almonds next to me while writing applications. Chewing on something tasty somehow makes the process feel less exhausting. With the days getting shorter, having small joys helps me endure.

In reality, job searching at the end of the year isn't a cure-all. Different industries and companies have varying hiring rhythms, and the current market isn't moving very quickly.

Still, I believe that taking action when everyone else is taking a break definitely has its significance. Isn't it much better than standing in line with everyone else in January?

Don't feel too disappointed if communication has stopped; let's take the initiative to knock on the door first this time. With a warm cup of tea, of course.