How should one approach hiring during the winter season when they need a job?

Is your concern about money or about visa/immigration status? I assume money since most temp places would not sponsor a visa anyway.

I'd start by asking the question: How much money do you need? For how long?

If you need the income now, 2 thoughts come to mind:

1. Do freelancing - Go on places like Upwork and look for quick gigs to earn a couple hundred/thousand dollars here and there.
2. Apply to early-start startups - Unlike big companies where they can just code freeze and 90% of the company checks out, startups need to be running all the time or be dead. And if a startup needs to hire someone, they want someone ASAP.

Otherwise you can be in preparation mode, doing things like grinding LeetCode, doing mocks, and writing out behavioral interview stories.

Hiring should pick up in 1 to 1.5 months though, which isn't that long. If you don't need money ASAP, I recommend enjoying the holidays as much as you can. It will put you in a much better mental state for interviews and 2025 overall.