December is a funny old month for hiring. Everyone assumes the world goes to sleep, candidates stop looking and the only thing anyone is serious about is mince pies.
But the data tells a very different story.

Right now is one of the strongest windows of the year to attract great applicants. While employers everywhere hit pause until January, candidates are quietly planning their next move, polishing CVs and scrolling job boards between festive socials.

If you want the best people, you should not be waiting for the new year. You should be advertising today.

Here is what the latest Reed.co.uk insights show and why December hiring gives you a real head start.

Candidate activity is sky high

Around 80 percent of UK jobseekers are either actively or casually looking for a new role over the next year. That interest does not vanish in December. In fact, it often increases as people reflect on their current job and plan fresh starts for January.

While your competitors take their foot off the pedal, your advert can take centre stage. Less noise. More visibility. Better talent.

Salary transparency boosts applications

Reed’s data shows that including a salary can increase application rates by up to 44 percent. Candidates want clarity and they will always favour adverts that are upfront about pay.

If your December advert is the one that tells the truth and removes guesswork, you are instantly ahead.

Benefits matter more than ever

A quarter of candidates now prioritise flexibility over pay and interest in career progression and skills development has risen 11 percent year on year.

If you highlight flexibility, training, development or wellbeing perks, you are speaking directly to what candidates want most. That is a powerful advantage at a time when others are not posting at all.

Keywords and structure lift visibility

Using up to five relevant keywords and a clean structure significantly improves advert performance. Clear job titles. Simple sections. Short paragraphs.

Most advertisers get this wrong. December is the perfect time to do it right and stand out.

Avoid common pitfalls

Unclear formatting, vague layouts, long blocks of text or missing information can quickly put great candidates off.
Simple tweaks make a huge difference. December is your chance to refresh your adverts while the market is quieter.

Recommended next steps for stronger December adverts

• Keep job titles short and free from symbols.
• Use short sections and subtitles to guide readers.
• Highlight the top three or four benefits.
• Add screening questions for better relevance.
• Include postcodes and salary details for stronger matching.
• Post earlier in the week to capture peak traffic.
• Keep your language inclusive and gender neutral.
• Make the most of tools like candidate databases, boost credits and solus emails.

The real message

Do not leave your roles sitting until January. Candidates are active right now and the market is less crowded.
Get your adverts ready. Get visible. Start attracting talent before everyone else wakes up.

If you want support tightening your adverts or boosting visibility, we are here to help.

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