Getting dropped on, say, Dec 1st sets you back about 6 weeks on being able to start your job hunt. That stuff all but shuts down in the second half of December,

Getting dropped on, say, Dec 1st sets you back about 6 weeks on being able to start your job hunt. That stuff all but shuts down in the second half of December, by the time you might really have your search rolling, plus many fiscal years, budgets, or hiring allocations are aligned to calendar years, and the first couple weeks of January are companies ramping back up after the break. Even skip-the-interview network-hires are likely to get a "yeah, I think I can get you in, check back a couple weeks into January and we can start that process" response if you message in December.