Your December Job Search Action Plan: The 19-Day Strategy to Start January with Momentum

You have 19 days left in December.

While most executives are putting their job search on hold until January, you have a narrow window to create massive competitive advantage.

Here's exactly what to do between now and December 31st to enter January with active conversations, scheduled interviews, and real momentum while everyone else is just starting their search.

This is your day-by-day action plan for the next three weeks.

Why This Action Plan Works

Before we dive into daily tactics, understand why this approach is effective:

Advantage 1: Low Competition

• Application volume is 30-40% below normal
• Decision-makers have more time for conversations
• Your outreach stands out instead of getting buried

Advantage 2: Strategic Timing

• Companies are planning Q1 and thinking about team needs
• Budget is approved but not yet deployed
• Hiring managers are accessible and forward-focused

Advantage 3: January Positioning

• You'll have relationships built while others are cold applying
• You'll be in second rounds while others are getting first calls
• You'll leverage December work when January surge hits

Advantage 4: Compound Momentum

• Each conversation leads to referrals
• Each networking event creates multiple touchpoints
• Each week builds on the previous week's foundation

By January 2nd, you'll have:

• 30-50 decision-makers who know your name
• 5-10 active conversations in progress
• 3-5 interview processes scheduled or underway
• Momentum that compounds while others are starting from zero

Now here's exactly how to make it happen.

Week 1 (December 12-18): Foundation and Launch

This week is about preparation and initial outreach. You're building the foundation for the next two weeks.

Day 1 (Thursday, December 12): LinkedIn Profile Optimization

Time required: 90 minutes

Tasks:

Update your headline (15 minutes)

• Use formula: [Target Role] | [Specialization] | [Quantified Outcome] | [Availability Signal]
• Example: "VP Sales | B2B SaaS Scale Expert | $10M→$100M in 3 Years | Open to New Opportunities"

Rewrite your About section (30 minutes)

• Hook (lines 1-2): What you do + For whom + With what result
• Proof (lines 3-7): 3 specific achievements with numbers
• Call (lines 8-10): What you're looking for + How to reach you

Update experience descriptions (30 minutes)

• Each role needs 3-5 quantified achievements
• Focus on results, not responsibilities
• Use numbers, percentages, and specific outcomes

Turn on "Open to Work" for recruiters only (5 minutes)

• Settings → Privacy → Job seeking preferences
• Check "Let recruiters know you're open" (visible ONLY to recruiters)
• Never use the public green banner

Request 2-3 recommendations (10 minutes)

• Former managers, peers, or direct reports
• Provide draft if needed
• Send today so they arrive over the next week

Success metric: Profile views increase 25%+ within 48 hours

Day 2 (Friday, December 13): Resume Refresh and Target List

Time required: 2 hours

Morning: Resume update (60 minutes)

Audit current resume:

• Does it lead with quantified achievements?
• Is it tailored to your target role?
• Does it pass the 6-second scan test?

Rewrite achievement bullets:

• Start with action verb
• Include specific metric or outcome
• Add context and timeframe
• Example: "Scaled revenue from $20M to $85M in 3 years by building enterprise sales motion and improving win rates 40%"

Ensure executive positioning:

• Strategic focus, not tactical details
• Business outcomes, not task lists
• Leadership and impact, not individual contributions

Afternoon: Build target company list (60 minutes)

Create spreadsheet with these columns:

• Company name
• Industry/sector
• Revenue/size
• Location
• Why you're interested
• Decision-maker names (to be filled in next)
• Status (to be updated)

Identify 30-50 companies in three tiers:

• Tier 1 (10-15 companies): Dream companies, perfect fit
• Tier 2 (15-20 companies): Strong opportunities, good fit
• Tier 3 (15-20 companies): Acceptable backup options

Research sources:

• LinkedIn company search with filters
• Crunchbase for startups and funding info
• Industry publications and rankings
• Your network's companies
• Competitors to companies you know

Success metric: 30-50 companies documented with basic info

Day 3 (Saturday, December 14): Decision-Maker Research

Time required: 90 minutes

For your Tier 1 companies (10-15):

Identify 2-3 decision-makers at each:

• Hiring manager for your target role
• CEO or relevant C-level executive
• Board members or investors (if accessible)

Use LinkedIn Sales Navigator if available:

• Search by company + title
• Filter by seniority level
• Check for mutual connections
• Note recent posts or activity

Document for each decision-maker:

• Name and title
• LinkedIn profile URL
• Recent posts or content they've shared
• Mutual connections
• Company news or trigger events
• Specific challenges they likely face

Success metric: 20-30 specific decision-makers identified with research notes

Day 4 (Sunday, December 15): Outreach Preparation

Time required: 60 minutes

Create your outreach templates:

Template 1: The Q1 Planning Message