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Weekly Newsletter Vol. 118 - December 3, 2025

Generating your Lead Story…

Get Hired Before the New Year: 5 Job Search Strategies That Actually Work

As we head into the final stretch of the year, most people assume hiring slows down. The reality? Companies are still filling roles, budgets need to be used, and teams want to start January fully staffed.

If you want to land a role before the New Year, here are five strategies you can put into play immediately plus tools, job boards, and real-world tactics that actually get results.

1. Treat Your Job Search Like a Sales Pipeline

The biggest mistake job seekers make is waiting for “luck” to strike. Treating your search like a pipeline gives you structure and momentum.

What to do:

• Apply to 3–5 targeted roles per day—not 30 generic ones.

• Track your applications in a simple CRM or spreadsheet.

• Follow up 48–72 hours after applying.

Example: You apply to a Marketing Manager role at Shopify. After submitting your application, find the hiring manager on LinkedIn, send a friendly note, and ask one smart question about the role. This shows intent and instantly moves you ahead of passive applicants.

2. Optimize Your Resume for ATS (Yes, It Still Matters)

Most mid-size and enterprise companies use Applicant Tracking Systems that scan for keywords.

What to do:

• Mirror the keywords from the job description.

• Remove fancy formatting and heavy design elements.

• Lead each bullet with strong actions + measurable results.

Example:

Instead of: Responsible for managing social campaigns

Use: Led social campaigns that grew engagement by 32% and contributed to 3M impressions in 6 months.

Job boards where ATS-friendly resumes shine

• LinkedIn Jobs

• Indeed

• ZipRecruiter

• Glassdoor

3. Use Outbound Networking to Get in Front of Hiring Managers

Your network is the fastest path to an interview. Even a cold outbound message beats waiting in the online line.

What to do:

• Identify 5–10 companies hiring in your field.

• Message leaders (not HR) with a warm, short introduction.

• Share a single relevant result or project you’ve done.

End with a soft ask, like: “If you’re open to it, I’d love to send my resume your way.”

Example DM: “Hi [Name], I applied to the Customer Success Lead role posted on your career page. I’ve spent the last 3 years building retention programs that cut churn by 18% at company “X”. If you’re open to it, I’d love to share my resume. Either way, wishing you a strong Q4.”

4. Leverage In-Person Events (Underrated but Highly Effective)

While everyone else hides behind job boards, in-person events put you in a category of one.

What to do:

• Attend local industry meetups, chamber of commerce events, or professional association gatherings.

• Bring 10–20 printed resumes or a QR code linking to your portfolio.

• Have a 15-second intro ready.

Example Intro: “Nice to meet you, I’m Sarah. I help retail brands grow revenue through community and CX. Currently exploring new roles, what team are you with?”

Where to find events:

• Eventbrite

• Meetup

• Local tech councils or HR associations

• University alumni events (even if you didn’t attend)

Hiring managers remember the people they meet in person—it’s your advantage.

5. Apply on Niche & Role-Specific Job Boards

General boards are crowded. Niche boards get fewer applicants—and higher-quality roles.

Try these:

• Tech: BuiltIn, WellFound (AngelList), Dice

• Remote: WeWorkRemotely, Remote.co, FlexJobs Creative/Marketing: Behance, Dribbble, MarketingHire Startups: Y Combinator Jobs, Startup.jobs 

• Finance: eFinancialCareers

• Government/Public: USAJobs, Government of Canada Jobs.

Example: A candidate I worked with couldn’t get any traction on LinkedIn. When he applied through BuiltIn and directly emailed the VP of Product, he booked 4 interviews within a week.

Final Push: Your New Year Offer

The next 4–6 weeks can completely change your 2025 trajectory.

If you want to stand out:

• Be proactive.

• Get visible.

• Treat networking as a daily activity, not an afterthought.

• Don’t wait until January when everyone else starts applying again.

The opportunities are there, you just need to put yourself in front of them.

You can’t make this stuff up

_{(*Disclaimer: these are real experiences provided by RME's community of job seekers and hiring managers)}

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_{*We do not receive any compensation for these promoted products/services, nor for any offers or discounts listed. Rather, we provide a platform for recruiters, hiring managers, and companies to present opportunities to job seekers.}

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Find your next job with: The Wohl Group

As strategic recruiting specialists, The Wohl Group offers a full range of recruiting and consulting services for businesses and hiring managers. We strive on a daily basis to provide each client and candidate we speak with the best resources for the hiring process.

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