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​January isn’t for interviews, it’s for positioning yourself

There’s a common belief among SAP professionals that January is a slow month for hiring. Fewer interviews. Delayed decisions. Everyone easing back into work.

That assumption is only half right, and that’s where opportunity sits.

Yes you’re right: A large amount of people are generally away in January however not everyone is and if you are smart and proactive there are some opportunities to take advantage of the summer slump!

Here at Speller we are actively headhunting, screening, and building shortlists for February starts.

If you’re invisible in January, you’re unlikely to be interviewed until February or even March

What’s really happening behind the scenes

January is when recruiters are:

• Mapping the market for upcoming roles

• Having exploratory conversations with candidates

• Validating skills, availability, and motivations

• Creating shortlists ready for stakeholder review

By the time decision-makers are back, and calendars reopen (they may already have interview slots penciled in for February), the groundwork is already done.

Taking time off doesn’t nean switching off

No one expects candidates to job search full-time in January. But disengaging completely can be costly.

Being open to:

• A 30-minute call

• A Teams introduction

• A skills and availability conversation

For these calls make sure you can clearly articulate your expectations and what you are looking for, what is a nice to have and what is a must have.

These conversations aren’t interviews. They’re positioning.

How to use January strategically as a candidate

Rather than treating January as downtime, use it lightly, but deliberately:

• Make yourself reachable, even if availability is limited

• Have clarity on the roles, projects, or contracts you’d consider

• Be honest about timelines and start dates

• Use conversations to re-establish relationships, not force outcomes

Momentum doesn’t require urgency; it requires presence.

A final thought

February interviews are rarely sourced in February.

Candidates who treat January as a positioning month enter Q1 with options. Those who wait for “things to pick up” often discover they already have.

You don’t need to rush, but you do need to be visible.