15 things health majors should do in December to help their 2026 job search

One of the most important things medicine, pre medicine, and health majors should do in December is convert their academic profile into a market ready professional narrative.

By year end, students should audit their CV and LinkedIn profile through an employer lens, not an academic one. That means clearly translating clinical rotations, internships, research work, and certifications into outcomes, skills, and patient or system impact. Recruiters and hospitals hire for readiness, not grades alone. A student who shows practical exposure, compliance awareness, and role clarity will always move faster in hiring pipelines.

December is also the ideal time to quietly start relationship building. Reach out to alumni, clinicians, recruiters, and hospital HR teams for informational conversations, not job requests. These early touchpoints often turn into interviews in Q1 when budgets open.

My tip is to treat December as a positioning month, not a holiday pause. The candidates who secure roles early in 2026 are usually the ones who prepared their story, visibility, and connections before January even began.

I think the most important thing to do in December is to get very honest about what you actually enjoy doing. It doesn’t have to sound impressive; maybe you like the OR, or a lab, or maybe you just really enjoy talking to the patients. That clarity matters more than trying to fit some “ideal” profile, and once you know what you like, use December to invest time in things aligned with that: if you’re drawn to the OR, look for observerships or shadowing in surgery; if you like internal medicine, take a course on ECGs, diabetes, or heart failure; if you love research, ask to help with data collection or a small project in a lab. Those small, targeted steps signal direction and interest, and when 2026 starts, you are not just another CV; you are someone who already has a story that matches the job you want.

I advise every graduating clinician to take the time to refine clinical narratives throughout December, since employers are inclined to make quicker hires if a candidate provides a clear image of how they function within a working environment. My own journey as a Certified Nurse Anesthetist taught me that it is the accuracy of your narrative that will ultimately win opportunities prior to your resume even reaching a recruiter’s desk. Also, I created my company through learning how hospitals assess a candidate’s readiness for employment. The graduating clinician who documents the measurable skills gained from each rotation goes into interviews with a level of clarity that hiring managers rarely see. They can present the exact number of procedures completed, outline the different types of patients handled, and point out the specific moments that strengthened stress management. A well-documented history of hands-on experience reflects reliability, so program directors and hospital teams can expedite the hiring process. This shortens the time to an offer and helps new graduates secure strong positions earlier in the calendar year.

I recommend to build a short list of real people who can vouch for you. In medicine and in my dermatology practice, the strongest hires come from warm introductions. A polished CV matters. A trusted referral gets your email opened during holiday staffing crunches.

Here is how I would do it if I were starting again. Pick 15 target roles or programs. Then book 10 quick calls with residents, attendings, alumni, or clinic managers before New Year’s week. Keep your LinkedIn clean and your voicemail professional. Ask one focused question, then ask who else you should speak with. Send a thank you note the same day. In early January, apply with a tailored cover note that names the connection.

While I am building my own functional medicine medical practice from the ground up, it is also December, so now is the time to assess the actual interests of the mentors and clinics you would like to pursue, and therefore which ones you will be sending your application(s) to versus applying to every single one.

The majority of students do not start networking until January. In addition, most of the best jobs at clinics are secured through informal conversation before they are formally posted as job openings. Contact a practitioner you are interested in working with; ask if you can observe or help them during their slowest month (the winter months), and many clinics will offer space to work there for a few days during December, because this interaction with decision-makers is far more valuable than a piece of paper (your resume).

It is the way a candidate understands the business aspect of healthcare, versus merely the clinical protocols used in healthcare that differentiates a good candidate from a poor candidate.

When you contact a clinic, provide evidence that you have done your homework regarding their patient demographics, treatment philosophies and how they conduct business. The majority of new graduates tend to rely solely upon their credentials and qualifications when contacting practices, without doing research on the specific needs of the particular practice. Smaller functional medicine clinics need employees that can support the educational aspects of their patients, follow-up care as well as provide the necessary clinical skills. Larger hospitals require employees that can rapidly learn and implement the clinical knowledge and skills in accordance with established hospital policies and procedures.

The lower amount of competition in December while all others wait until January to search for employment positions provides an opportunity to form professional relationships with potential employers. Most of the positions available in January and February are secured by individuals that formed a relationship with potential employers in November and December. Utilize the winter months to develop relationships, create connections and casually converse with decision makers that could result in a future job opportunity.

I’ve been hiring physical therapists for over a decade, and December is when I’ve consistently found the best candidates — but most graduates completely miss this window. Here’s what actually works: reach out directly to practices in early-to-mid December, not January when everyone else does.

When we hired our last two PTs, both contacted us in December. One sent a quick email explaining she was graduating in May and wanted to learn about our patient population before formal applications opened. We had coffee, she shadowed for a morning, and by February she had an offer — two months before her classmates even started applying. The other hundred applications we got in March? They all blended together.

Most practices finalize their budgets and hiring plans in December and January. I literally sit down with my accountant in mid-December to figure out if we can afford another therapist for the new year. If someone impressive reaches out during that exact window, they’re top of mind when I’m making those decisions. Wait until March when you graduate, and I’ve already mentally allocated those funds elsewhere or hired someone.

Skip the mass applications. Instead, identify 10-15 practices where you’d actually want to work, research what makes them unique, and send a brief personal message in the next two weeks. Mention you’re graduating soon and ask if you can observe for a few hours to learn their approach. At Evolve, we’ve never said no to that request, and it’s led to three hires over the years.

Focus on establishing and nurturing meaningful professional connections through targeted networking. While grades and technical expertise are vital, the healthcare field is often driven by relationships, referrals, and insider knowledge of opportunities.

Leverage the holiday season to reconnect with mentors, professors, and professionals in the field. A thoughtful email or even a quick coffee meeting during winter break can leave a lasting impression. Additionally, many hospitals, research institutions, and medical association s host seasonal events or conferences around this time — attending these not only broadens your network but also demonstrates active engagement in the field.

Personalize your approach when reaching out —comment on their recent work, inquire about their current projects, or seek advice specific to your career aspirations. This shows genuine interest and sets you apart from others who might rely on generic networking strategies. Relationships forged during December can often result in valuable recommendations, job leads, or even mentors that guide you through the transition from education to your career.

One of the smartest things medicine and pre-med students can do in December is to intentionally build their resume in ways that make them stand out personally, not just clinically.

Everyone applying will have similar coursework, similar GPA ranges, and similar shadowing hours. What employers remember are the applicants who can show leadership, communication skills, community involvement, or a unique personal project.

December is the perfect time to update your resume, add a meaningful volunteer experience, start a small health education project, or reflect on stories that show who you are beyond academics. Those personal differentiators are often what get you noticed and help you land a great job early in 2026.

December represents a fantastic opportunity for health majors to begin building their resume by pursuing some type of short, hands-on clinical experience (such as volunteering at a hospital) or simply shadowing professionals before the next round of hiring; as the semester winds down in December, students typically have fewer commitments and less stress and therefore can explore other types of experiences that hiring managers continuously look for in candidates, such as the ability to connect with patients and understand the “day-to-day” nature of working in a variety of different work environments.

Additionally, as important as building a strong resume, December is a great time to develop professional connections; as referenced previously, supervisors, residents, and other clinic employees may serve as future references and/or may informally notify you of potential job openings. Networking in the field of healthcare is typically done through work-related experiences; developing professional relationships early will enable you to establish a competitive advantage in the field once the hiring process picks up again in January.