There’s something about January that makes everyone want to reinvent themselves. The gym memberships, the meal prep containers, the pristine planners will all definitely get some of their most use in this month. But while most New Year energy fizzles out by February, the one area were a fresh start in January can create momentum for the whole year is your career.
If you’ve been thinking about making a move, asking for that promotion, or finally having the salary conversation you’ve been putting off, January through March is a great time to take action.
Contents
- Why Q1 is different
- What this means for you
- If you’re staying in your current role
- If you’re considering a move
- If you’re thinking about negotiation
- The trap to avoid
- Make January count
Why Q1 is different
Corporate calendars have a rhythm, and understanding it gives you a massive advantage. Here’s what’s happening behind the scenes in most organizations during the first quarter:
Budgets have just reset. Companies that operate on calendar-year cycles (which is most of them) have fresh headcount and salary increase budgets in January. Your manager isn’t scrambling to find money or justify expenses against what’s already been spent., at this time of year the pot is full, and they’re looking at how to allocate it. It probably feels early because you may have just gone through a salary convesation, but if you didn’t share your expectations for the year ahead this is a great time to let your manager know what compensation you are working toward this year.
Hiring activity spikes. Recruitment data consistently shows that January and February see the highest volume of job postings across most industries. Companies are executing on hiring plans that were approved in Q4, and they’re motivated to fill the roles quickly. If you’re job hunting, you’re competing in a market with more opportunities and more urgency from employers.
Performance reviews have wrapped. Most organizations finish their annual review cycles in December or early January. This means two things, first, managers have just done the work of evaluating everyone’s contributions and thinking critically about their team’s strengths and gaps, and second, they’re now in planning mode for the year ahead. It’s the perfect moment to position yourself for new responsibilities or have strategic conversations about your trajectory.
Energy is genuinely different. Yes, New Year motivation is a cliché, but there’s something to it. People are more open to change and more receptive to proposals in January than they are in, say, August when everyone’s mentally checked out or November when they’re focused on closing out the year.
What this means for you
If you’re going to be strategic about your career this year, January is when you plant the seeds. Not in March when you’re frustrated. Not in June when you’re burnt out. Not in September when budgets are already allocated and hiring plans are set.
Here’s how to use the January advantage:
If you’re staying in your current role
Book time with your manager in the first two weeks of January, before their calendar gets insane to have a strategic conversation about the year ahead. Come prepared with:
What you want to work on. Be specific with what you would like, and dono’t use vague phrases like “I’d like to take on more leadership responsibilities.”. Instead say, “I’d like to lead the Q2 client workshop series” or “I want to own the relationship with our three largest accounts.” Give your manager something concrete to say yes to.
What success looks like. If you’re angling for a promotion or salary increase later this year, you need to establish the benchmarks now. What does it take to move from Senior Analyst to Manager at your firm? What are the expectations for someone in the role you are looking to reach? Get clarity on the path and expectations so you can position yourself by the time those decisions are made later in the year.
Your development priorities. This is where you align your growth with the company’s needs. If your organisation is prioritising digital transformation, maybe you’re taking a course on data analytics. If they’re expanding into new markets, perhaps you’re working on your presentation skills for client pitches. Make it clear that your development serves the business and ask your manager for budget to support this professional development and learning.
The goal of this conversation is to leave with a roadmap that has clear milestones and agreement on what you’re working toward.
If you’re considering a move
January is when you want to be visible in the market and is a great time to do some of the things you may have been putting off such as update your LinkedIn profile, reaching out to your network for coffee chats and leeting people know you’re open to conversations about your next career move.
During Q1 competition is actually higher because more people are looking, but the volume of opportunities can make up for it and the companies that are hiring in January are serious about filling these roles quickly.
Get your materials ready early. Your CV should be updated by the first week of January. Your “tell me about yourself” pitch should be practiced. The cover letter template you customize for each application should exist. When you see the right role posted, you want to apply that same day so you are top of the pile of applications and you are not scrambling to get your act together while 200 other people get their applications in first.
Be strategic about what you’re targeting. You should be focusing on roles that are genuinely the right next step rather than clicking apply to every role you see that vaguely suits you on LinkedIn. Quality over quantity matters more when hiring managers are actively reviewing applications and keen to fill positions.
If you’re thinking about negotiation
Whether it’s a promotion, a salary increase, or a new job offer, Q1 is negotiation season. This may seem like an odd time since you just went through review season, but at this time there is new allocated budget, and managers are making their plans for the year ahead.
Do your research now. Know what people in your role, at your level, in your industry are actually earning. Not what you think is fair or what you hope for, but what the market pays. Sites like Glassdoor and LinkedIn Salary are a starting point, but the best data comes from actual conversations with people in your network.
Build your case in January. Even if the actual negotiation conversation happens mid year, January is when you gather your evidence. What have you delivered? What problems have you solved? What would it cost to replace you? Write it down, quantify it where possible, and practice articulating this so you are ready to communicate it to your manager.
Understand your timeline. Some companies do annual increases in January. Others wait until March or April. Some tie it to your anniversary date. Know how your organization operates so you’re having the conversation at the right time, not three months after decisions were already made.
The trap to avoid
Here’s where good intentions go sideways: treating January like it’s magic. It’s not. The advantage exists because of structural factors like budgets and hiring cycles, not because the universe is particularly generous in the first month of the year.
That means you can’t just set an intention and hope it manifests. You need to do the actual work, have the uncomfortable money conversations and apply for the roles that feel slightly out of reach.
The other trap is waiting for perfect clarity on what you want next. You don’t need to have your entire career mapped out to take advantage of Q1, you just need to know the next goal. Do you want more money in your current role? Do you want a new challenge? Do you want out entirely? Start there, and let the specifics emerge as you have conversations and explore options.
Make January count
If you’ve been thinking about making a career move, this is your window to start working towards that.
So before January turns into February and February turns into “I’ll deal with this after the project wraps” and then suddenly it’s August and you’re frustrated that nothing’s changed, take action now.
Pick one small action that you are committing to doing in January to move your career forward, such as booking the career startegy meeting with your boss, updating your LinkedIn, reach out to three people in your network and research what role you want to pivot to.
Once you have done this first step, you can move onto making a more in depth action plan that will get you what you want in the next 12 months.
Continue Reading
- The Year-End Career Audit: 10 Questions to Ask Yourself – Reflect on your career year and plan strategic moves for what’s next.
- How I Increased My Salary by 75% in 2.5 Years (And How You Can Too) – Real strategies for negotiating and progressing your compensation.
- The #1 Simple Thing You Should Be Doing to Get a Promotion – Track your wins so you’re ready for Q1 career conversations.
- The 4×6 Method: Your Strategic Roadmap to Career Acceleration – Create a quarterly planning system to make the most of the year ahead.
- 29 Ways to Get Organised Before the New Year (And Stay That Way) – Set up systems that support your career goals and make follow-through easier.
Dive Deeper in the Members Library
Want more practical resources to support your career and life? Peer Suite members get exclusive access to our resource library, including:
- Career Tracking Sheet – Track your accomplishments and prepare for year-end reviews
- Workplace Communication Templates – Professional email templates for every situation
- Year-End Review Prep Video – Step-by-step guidance for negotiating your next raise
- Building Sustainable Routines for Rest and Recovery – Avoid burnout with practical strategies
Plus workshops, guides, and tools to help you navigate every stage of your career.
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