Is there such a thing as the “best time” to look for a job?
Did you come back from leave after the Christmas period and realise you still need a change? While the best time to look for a job is always going to be today, there are certain times of the year that will enhance your chances of finding a new role.
Timing is everything
The end of the year is a terrible time for recruiting. Everyone is thinking about the Christmas break and focussed on meeting their work demands. Employers don’t want to start new employees just before Christmas. With many businesses shutting down, they don’t want to pay for the public holidays for an employee that has just begun.
Many companies start the year with a big push to recruit for new jobs or replace employees that left at the end of the previous year. Employers know that people like you come back to work and are looking for a change. According to Indeed.com, each year there is a consistent drop in the number of job searches in late December followed by a dramatic increase again in January.
The result is a lot of people moving jobs in the first few months of the year which creates an excellent opportunity for those entering the job market.
Follow the money
When I worked in construction, it was common for large projects to get their funding at the end of the year. HR would then madly scramble to hire people ready to start working on these projects in January.
Ask yourself what are the key times in the life cycle for your industry? For companies that budget based on the financial year, July can be the best time to look for a job as new funds are released to employ new staff. Do you work in a role that is reliant on government contracts? Contract renewal times can see lots of movement between organisations.
Understanding when there are peak times for jobs to be created in your industry will ensure you can be ready to take advantage of those opportunities when they arise.
Don’t miss your window
Make sure you take advantage of the best time to look for a new job. Here are a few tips:
- Keep in touch with your network. Word of mouth is the best way to hear about job opportunities before they go to market.
- Make sure your resume is ready to go. If someone calls you out of the blue, you will be prepared to move quickly.
- Be brave! Put yourself out there. If you are thinking about making a change, start putting out feelers, you don’t want to miss the next big role for you.
