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If you're thinking about a move, the best time to start is now, not January.

Every year we hear the same thing: "I'll sort my CV out after Christmas." It feels sensible. The diary's full, the factory's winding down for shutdown, and January feels like a clean slate. But in engineering and manufacturing, waiting until the new year usually means joining the back of a very long queue.

Here's why the candidates who start in October and November tend to land the better roles.

Six reasons to start before Christmas

1. Employers are still hiring, and want it done before year end

Plenty of businesses have headcount signed off for this year that they need to use or lose. Others want new starters lined up for January so they hit the ground running in Q1. Either way, hiring managers are motivated to make decisions before the break.

2. There's far less competition

Most people wait. That means fewer applications landing on a hiring manager's desk in November and December. Your CV gets read properly rather than sitting in a pile of 80 that arrived on the first Monday in January.

3. Your notice period lines up perfectly

Most engineering and technical roles carry a one-month notice period, and senior roles often three. Secure an offer in November and you can hand in your notice, enjoy Christmas, and start fresh in January. Start looking in January and you might not walk through a new door until spring.

4. The January rush slows everything down

In the new year, inboxes overflow, interview slots get booked up and processes drag. Before Christmas, decisions are often quicker because everyone wants things wrapped up before the shutdown.

5. You'll stand out for the right reasons

Applying while others are coasting shows drive. Hiring managers notice candidates who are proactive about their careers, and that first impression counts.

6. Christmas is the perfect time to reflect, not start from scratch

Use the break to weigh up offers or prepare for final interviews, not to rewrite your CV. You'll go into the new year with momentum instead of a to-do list.

Where to start

• Update your CV now. Lead with recent projects, machinery, software and qualifications.
• Know what you want. Salary, location, shift pattern, progression. Be clear before you talk to anyone.
• Speak to a specialist. A recruiter who knows your sector can tell you which employers are hiring now, not just what's on the job boards.

Talk to Lodestone

At Lodestone Recruitment, we specialise in engineering, manufacturing and technical roles primarily across South and West Yorkshire, Greater Manchester and the surroundings areas.
Our specialism cover the traditional disciplines like Fabrication, Welding, Machining, Fitting and Maintenance. However, we also recruit in roles such as Quality, Sales, Procurement, Health and Safety, Electronics, and Production Management all the way to Director.

If you're even half thinking about a move, get in touch before Christmas. A quick, confidential chat now could mean a new role to start in January.