Blogs

The Silly Season Survival Guide for Tech Job Seekers

The holiday season often feels like a time to hit pause, but for tech job seekers, it’s also a golden opportunity to get ahead. While some hiring processes slow down, savvy candidates know this is the perfect time to shine in a quieter market. With the right focus, you can position yourself to stand out and land your next role.


Here’s your ultimate silly season survival guide to stay productive, motivated, and ready for the new year:


Revamp Your LinkedIn Profile

Your LinkedIn profile is your digital handshake—it’s the first thing recruiters notice. Use the holiday downtime to:

  • Update your headline: Be specific about your skills and the type of roles you’re targeting
  • Showcase achievements: Add recent projects, certifications, or awards
  • Engage actively: Share insights, comment on industry updates, or post about a trend in your niche. This keeps you visible and builds your professional brand.


Build Genuine Connections Through Networking

The holidays are a natural time for conversation, making it the perfect moment to:

  • Reach out to your network: Send friendly check-ins or holiday greetings to past colleagues and mentors
  • Join virtual events or meetups: Many tech groups host informal year-end events where you can connect with peers and potential employers
  • Engage in “Coffee Chats”: A casual virtual chat can open doors to new opportunities without the pressure of a formal interview.


Take Advantage of a Quieter Market

While some companies slow hiring over the holidays, many are still planning for the new year. Here’s how to capitalise:

  • Apply strategically: Fewer applications during this time mean less competition for you
  • Follow up: Hiring managers and recruiters may have more time to respond to personalised follow-ups
  • Stay proactive: If a role isn’t currently open, express interest in being considered when positions arise in January.


Upskill and Stay Current

Tech evolves fast, so use the downtime to enhance your skills:

  • Enrol in a short course: Platforms like Coursera or Udemy offer quick courses in high-demand areas like AI, cloud computing, or cybersecurity
  • Tinker with projects: Build a portfolio piece or contribute to open-source projects
  • Learn emerging trends: Read up on industry trends like quantum computing or green tech to impress recruiters with your foresight.


Maintain Balance and Motivation

Job hunting can be intense, but the holiday season also offers a chance to recharge:

  • Set achievable goals: Focus on small wins like completing a profile update or sending two connection requests daily
  • Celebrate progress: Acknowledge your efforts and remind yourself that each step brings you closer to your goal
  • Take breaks: Use the festive period to recharge mentally, so you enter the new year refreshed and ready.


While others wait for January, your proactive approach can put you ahead. Whether it’s through a polished LinkedIn profile, genuine connections, or upskilling, the steps you take now will set the stage for a successful 2025. The silly season is calling—start now, and the new year could bring exciting new opportunities your way!


Ready to land your next role? Sign up for job alerts here or upload your CV here - https://www.techanddatapeople.com.au/submit-cv


Glowing purple brain with interconnected lights, set against a swirling, dark purple and blue background.
By Kara Porter October 16, 2025
Explore why neurodiversity matters in tech, how different ways of thinking strengthen teams and practical strategies for building inclusive, high-performing data and tech teams.
Wind turbines and solar panels under a pink and purple sunset sky.
By Kara Porter September 29, 2025
Meeting net-zero targets starts with tech talent. Discover the critical cloud, security and integration roles driving a sustainable future.
Man with glasses in purple-lit room; on left, wearing headset and typing; on right, looking to the side.
By Kara Porter September 1, 2025
Ageism is holding back Australia’s tech workforce. Here’s why experience matters and how businesses can embrace age-inclusive hiring.
By Kara Porter August 12, 2025
Welcome to Lunch With a Leader, where the Tech & Data People team sits down with IT leaders to uncover their career insights, challenges, and industry perspectives. Each conversation brings valuable lessons, trends, and advice to help our community grow and thrive. Grab a seat at the table and take in the insights from some of the best in the business.
A computer chip is sitting on top of a purple motherboard.
By Kara Porter July 17, 2025
Spoiler: “Competitive salary” isn’t the hook you think it is.
By Kara Porter July 7, 2025
Welcome to Lunch with a Leader, where the Tech & Data People team sits down with IT leaders to uncover their career insights, challenges, and industry perspectives. Each conversation brings valuable lessons, trends, and advice to help our community grow and thrive. Grab a seat at the table and take in the insights from some of the best in the business.
By Kara Porter June 11, 2025
Welcome to Lunch with a Leader, where the Tech & Data People team sits down with IT leaders to uncover their career insights, challenges, and industry perspectives. Each conversation brings valuable lessons, trends, and advice to help our community grow and thrive. Grab a seat at the table and take in the insights from some of the best in the business. 
By Kara Porter June 3, 2025
Why the way you brief, partner, and align at the top matters more than ever.
By Kara Porter May 11, 2025
Welcome to Lunch with a Leader, where the Tech & Data People team sits down with IT leaders to uncover their career insights, challenges, and industry perspectives. Each conversation brings valuable lessons, trends, and advice to help our community grow and thrive. Grab a seat at the table and take in the insights from some of the best in the business. 
A row of cars are driving down a city street at night. Ambient Intelligence.
By Kara Porter May 8, 2025
We’ve entered an era where the smartest systems aren’t the loudest. they’re the ones you don’t even notice. Ambient Intelligence (AmI), or “ambient invisible intelligence,” is reshaping how we live and work, not with fanfare, but with subtlety. This is AI that whispers instead of shouts. It learns your habits, senses your environment, and responds without you lifting a finger. It’s the kind of intelligence that anticipates, not interrupts. So… why should tech professionals, recruiters, and business leaders care? What Is Ambient Intelligence (AmI), Really? Ambient intelligence refers to digital systems—AI, sensors, and networks—that are embedded into our environments to support humans quietly and contextually. Think beyond chatbots and flashy dashboards. This is: Smart lighting that adjusts based on mood or weather Healthcare systems that flag early symptoms before patients notice Cybersecurity that auto-defends without alert fatigue Enterprise tools that prioritise tasks based on your unique working patterns. It’s a tech layer that fades into the background. That is, until you realise you couldn’t function without it. A Silent Revolution in the Workplace Here’s the interesting bit: Ambient AI isn’t just for homes and smart cities. It’s quietly infiltrating our workplaces. Talent Platforms that serve candidates content before they search. Meeting Software that understands conversation flow and adjusts transcripts, follow-ups, or even sentiment analysis in real time. Facilities Management tools that adjust airflow, lighting, and noise levels based on occupancy and stress indicators. And all of this happens without user prompts. We’ve moved from “Hey Siri” to “Siri already knows.” Why It Matters for Tech Recruitment Let’s talk talent. As ambient intelligence grows, we’ll see rising demand for: AI/ML engineers with human-centred design experience Data privacy and ethics specialists IoT security experts UX professionals who understand invisible design Integration architects who can make fragmented systems feel cohesive. And here’s the catch: these roles often require cross-functional fluency. Tech meets psychology, meets ethics, meets design. Are we ready for that shift? Ethical Design in the Background There’s power in invisibility. But there’s risk too. When tech becomes ambient, it also becomes less visible to scrutiny. That means: Bias can go unchecked Data privacy can slip through the cracks Users can be nudged without realising it. The question is no longer can we do this? —But should we? Smart businesses will bring in people who can answer that. Invisible, but Intentional The future of AI isn’t a robot in the boardroom. It’s the algorithm silently removing barriers before they appear. Ambient intelligence is already here. You may have just not noticed it. Yet.