Navigating interviews in 2025: How to use the holiday season to prep

When you’re on the job hunt, the holiday season is a strategic window to prepare, reflect, and position yourself for success in the new year. January is traditionally one of the busiest hiring months, with companies finalizing budgets, opening new roles, and gearing up for fresh projects.

Here’s how to navigate the job market with focus and intentionality.

Understanding the 2025 Job market landscape

The tech industry is in a state of recovery. Over the past year, layoffs have halved while job openings have gradually increased. Big tech companies like Meta and Amazon are leading the way in hiring, and this momentum is expected to continue. As AI continues to expand, the demand for skilled software engineers remains strong. Companies building cutting-edge AI tools also need talented engineers to develop the surrounding infrastructure — think apps, user experiences, and tools that bring AI to life for end users.

That said, the holiday season often brings a natural slowdown. After Thanksgiving, many companies hit pause on active hiring to focus on preparing for the new year.

This predictable hiring cycle is a great chance for job seekers to regroup and prepare. By using the next few weeks wisely, you can position yourself to hit the ground running in Q1 and stay ahead of the competition as market momentum increases.

Focusing your energy: prioritize, don’t flail

The biggest mistake job seekers make during the holiday season is trying to do everything at once. Instead of juggling resume updates, coding challenges, and networking calls at the same time, choose one area to focus on and commit to it.

1. Assess where you are

Start by identifying your bottlenecks and benchmarking your technical skills. Where are you currently stuck? For some, it might be technical skills like data structures and algorithms. For others, it’s crafting compelling narratives for behavioral interviews or updating a LinkedIn profile to reflect recent accomplishments. Whatever your weak spot, honing in on it during this quieter season will yield far better results than spreading yourself thin.

2. Research target companies

As tech companies rebound and the job market becomes more competitive, knowledge is power. Dive into the companies you’re interested in, from their culture to their hiring processes. If they use specific interview platforms or coding environments, get familiar with them. Recruiters can be a great resource here—don’t hesitate to ask about the interview format, the types of problems you might face, or the skills they value most. This tailored approach not only helps you stand out but also reduces surprises during the actual interview process.

3. Create a plan

A clear plan turns preparation from an overwhelming task into a manageable process. Once you’ve identified your bottlenecks, break them down into smaller, specific goals. 

Here are a few practical examples:

• If technical skills are your bottleneck, dedicate time to refining foundational areas such as coding challenges or system design. Use structured problem-solving techniques to improve your performance under pressure.
• If storytelling is your challenge, refine how you present your experience in behavioral interviews. Frameworks like STARR can help you tell clear, compelling stories.
• If networking is your focus, reach out to former colleagues or mentors. The holidays are an ideal time to reconnect in a casual, low-pressure way. Use this time to plant seeds that could blossom into opportunities in the new year.

4. Timebox your effortsPreparation doesn’t have to take over your entire holiday season. In fact, overloading yourself with long, unstructured sessions can lead to burnout and inefficiency. A more effective approach is timeboxing—setting clear minimum and maximum limits for each task to create a balanced and sustainable routine.

For example, you might commit to spending at least 30 minutes but no more than 2 hours on specific preparation tasks like coding challenges or interview practice. This way, you’re making steady progress without overwhelming yourself or losing focus. The goal is consistency, not perfection, especially during a season when distractions are inevitable.

Should you take an interview during the holidays?

One common question during this season is whether to take an interview or defer it until you feel more prepared. The answer depends on your readiness and circumstances:

If you’re prepared: The holiday season can be an excellent time to interview. Companies often feel a sense of urgency to close roles before the year ends. Leverage this by leaning into opportunities that come up.

If you’re not ready: It’s okay to defer an interview. Communicate this decision thoughtfully to recruiters, framing it as a desire to bring your best self to the process. Recruiters often appreciate a candidate’s commitment to quality over speed.

Even if you’re not interviewing yet, the holiday season is an ideal time to prepare for Q1. 

• Use the downtime to update your resume and LinkedIn profile. Highlight recent achievements and tailor your materials to align with the roles you’re targeting.
• Schedule mock interviews with peers or mentors to build confidence. Focus on key areas like behavioral storytelling and technical problem-solving.
• If you’re actively networking, treat recruiters as allies. Ask about interview processes, tools you’ll use, and the backgrounds of interviewers. Recruiters are incentivized to help you succeed, so don’t hesitate to seek guidance.

Get holistic interview prep with Formation

The Formation Fellowship gives mid-level and senior engineering job seekers everything they need to land their dream roles—including personalized skill brush-ups, resume help, unlimited mock interviews with experienced software engineers and hiring managers from top-tier tech companies, career and negotiation support, and more. 

If you’re having trouble navigating your job search on your own, apply here and get unconditional support from a team of engineering mentors, technical recruiters, career coaches, and more.