November has a reputation. Whilst everyone’s gearing up for Christmas parties and year-end holidays, recruitment supposedly slows to a crawl. Candidates aren’t looking. Clients aren’t hiring. It’s just a waiting game until January, right?
Wrong.
The truth is, November presents a golden opportunity for recruiters who refuse to buy into the slowdown narrative. Whilst your competitors are coasting, you can be strategically positioning yourself for the busiest quarter of the year. Here are five ways to turn November’s quiet period into your most profitable month.
Clean Up Your Database (Seriously, Just Do It)
We all know it needs doing. That database of yours is probably cluttered with duplicate records, outdated contact details, and candidates who’ve moved on. According to research by Gartner, poor data quality costs organisations an average of $12.9 million (approximately £10 million) annually.
November is the perfect time to roll up your sleeves and sort it out.
Here’s what to focus on:
Remove duplicates: Nothing screams unprofessional like emailing the same candidate twice with different job opportunities.
Update contact details: That candidate who changed jobs six months ago? Update their records now so you’re not caught out in January.
Re-parse CVs: If you’ve been with the same CRM for a while, re-parsing older CVs with modern technology can extract information you previously missed.
Archive dead leads: If they haven’t responded in two years, it’s time to let go.
Modern recruitment CRMs like itris X can help automate duplicate detection and CV re-parsing, saving you hours of manual work. A clean database isn’t just satisfying, it’s the foundation for every successful placement you’ll make in 2026.
Reactivate Your Sleeping Candidates
Your database isn’t just a graveyard of old CVs, it’s a goldmine of talent you’ve already vetted. November is the ideal time to re-engage candidates who’ve gone quiet over the past year.
Why November? Because passive candidates are more receptive during quieter periods. They’re not being bombarded by recruiters the way they will be in January, so your outreach actually gets noticed.
Try these approaches:
Send a “checking in” email: Keep it casual and genuine. Ask how they’re getting on, whether their role is still fulfilling them, or if they’d be open to a confidential chat.
Share industry insights: Position yourself as a valuable contact by sending relevant market updates, salary benchmarking data, or news about their sector.
Segment your database: Use your CRM to create targeted lists based on skills, location, or industry, then craft personalised messages for each group.
A well-timed re-engagement campaign in November can fill your January pipeline before your competitors have even switched their out-of-office replies off.
Strengthen Client Relationships and Uncover Hidden Opportunities
Whilst November might be slower for active hiring, it’s the perfect time to deepen client relationships and uncover opportunities that’ll land in Q1.
Schedule face-to-face meetings (or virtual coffee chats) with your key clients to discuss:
2026 hiring plans: What roles are they forecasting? What skills will they need? Get ahead of their requirements.
Pain points: What challenges are they facing with their current team? Sometimes a conversation about retention can turn into a replacement opportunity.
Market insights: Share what you’re seeing in terms of salary expectations, candidate availability, and competitor activity. Position yourself as a strategic partner, not just a supplier.
These conversations not only strengthen your relationships, they also give you a head start on Q1 roles. When January hits and clients are ready to hire, you’ll already have a shortlist of candidates waiting.
Invest in Your Personal Development (and Your Team’s)
When workload is lighter, it’s the ideal time to upskill. Recruitment is evolving rapidly, and staying ahead of trends like AI-powered sourcing, skills-based hiring, and candidate experience is critical.
Consider these development areas:
AI and automation: Learn how tools like AI-powered candidate matching and workflow automation can save you time. If you’re using a CRM, explore features you’ve never tried before.
LinkedIn optimisation: Are you using LinkedIn effectively? Explore advanced search techniques, content creation, and social selling strategies.
Market research: Deep-dive into your niche. What are the emerging roles? Which companies are growing? Where are the talent shortages?
At itris, we offer learning resources designed to help recruitment teams get the most out of their CRM and stay ahead of industry changes. November is the perfect time to invest an afternoon in training that’ll pay dividends all year.
Plan and Prepare for the January Surge
January is the busiest month in recruitment. Candidates are motivated, clients have new budgets, and everyone’s ready to make moves. But if you wait until January to prepare, you’ve already lost the race.
Use November to:
Pre-write job ads: Draft templated job descriptions for roles you know will come up in Q1.
Prepare marketing campaigns: Schedule email campaigns, social media posts, and content for January. Get it ready now so you can hit the ground running.
Review your tech stack: Is your CRM set up to handle the January surge? Are your workflows optimised? Are integrations working smoothly? Now’s the time to iron out any kinks.
Set Q1 goals: Define your targets for placements, revenue, and candidate engagement. Having clear goals means you’ll start the year with focus and direction.
By preparing in November, you’ll enter January with a plan, a pipeline, and a competitive edge.
Conclusion: Don’t Wait for January, Win in November
November doesn’t have to be a write-off. Whilst others are winding down, you can be gearing up. By cleaning your database, re-engaging candidates, strengthening client relationships, investing in development, and preparing for Q1, you’ll turn November into a strategic advantage.
The recruiters who thrive in January are the ones who put in the groundwork in November. So skip the slowdown narrative and get ahead of the game. Your future self (and your commission statement) will thank you.