When you are looking for a new job, the timing of your job search can have a big impact on your success. There are typically periods of the year when companies slow down their productivity and recruitment, and there is less hiring going on. On the flip side, there are also other months when most organizations seem to be operating at full capacity and there is a surge in recruitment activity.
If you have been considering making a career move, you are in luck. September usually marks the beginning of one of the boom periods for hiring. Here's a look at the best and worst times of the year for landing a new job.
New Year / New Career
The start of the year, January and February are typically the strongest months for hiring. This is because many companies start off the calendar year with new targets, fresh budgets, and strategies for growth. Business heats up after the usual slowdown period in mid-to-late December. Projects that were put on hold until after the holidays are kicked off at full steam, and this often requires staffing up.
As people return to work in January, job postings tend to spike in the second or third week of the month. It generally takes an average of four weeks to fill an open position, so this hiring surge spills over into February as well.
The timing of the January hiring spike works out well for the many professionals who make finding a new job their New Year's resolution.
Spring Into a New Job
The springtime can also be a hot period for getting hired. It is still early in the year, so there is usually money remaining in the budget for ongoing projects. Hiring managers know that they will need to recruit, onboard, and train any new hires before the summer vacation period starts and staff begins taking time off.
While there are generally more jobs being advertised in January and February than in March and April, the new year period also brings on a surge in people looking for new opportunities. So, there is more competition for the available jobs. This is not the case for the spring job search. Having fewer applicants for each job can increase your chances of being interviewed for the position.
The Summer Job Slowdown
If you are looking for a summer job, it is best to start early in the year. Many summer job programs and seasonal opportunities begin their recruitment even before March. If you wait until June, July, and August actually arrive to start looking for your summer job, you'll find few opportunities to choose from with the best jobs already filled.
The same goes for non-seasonal jobs as well. The summer months tend to be a slower period for hiring. Many people use their vacation time to enjoy the warmer weather, and work tends to slow down in many organizations at this time of year.
Of course, even in periods with less hiring, there are still opportunities available. People leave their jobs and need to be replaced all through the year. Companies often need people with different skills or availability regardless of the calendar date. So, if you want to change jobs, don't let the season discourage you. It may just take a little longer to find the right opportunity in a period where there is statistically less hiring happening.
Back to School, Back to Work
September feels like New Year for many people. This period marks the start of a new school year and a return from summer vacation for many workers. This often represents a period of renewed productivity and focus for many organizations. The fourth quarter of the year is the time to achieve yearly targets and spend the rest of the annual budget. Many companies also seek to make up for lost time after the slower period of the summer.
This makes September and October the second largest spike in jobs being advertised after January and February. The professional networking platform LinkedIn has reported that they see more hiring activity in October than at any other point of the year.
If you are looking for a seasonal job for the holidays, hiring for retail and hospitality jobs peaks in October as well. Many retailers say that the end of the year marks their busiest and most profitable period.
Holiday Hiatus
November and December are usually the slowest months of the year for hiring. Once again, many people are thinking about taking vacation time, and work generally slows down for the holiday period. While the shops and restaurants might be bustling for the festive season, most of the hiring for those positions took place in earlier months.
Many departments will have exhausted their budgets for the year, and companies will be in planning mode for the next one. So, even those organizations that need to engage new staff members towards the end of the year will often put off the recruitment until January.
Of course, the same goes for job seekers as well. Many people delay their job searches in December to simply enjoy the holidays and make a fresh start in the new year. This means that for those jobs that are available in November and December, there tend to be fewer applicants. This can be another opportunity for applying for jobs with less competition than at more active times of the year for hiring.
Timing Your Job Search
Look for new jobs early in the week. A study of online job posting patterns has found that more jobs are advertised on Tuesdays than on any other days. According to the data, the most popular time for companies to post jobs is at around 11 am, while most candidates apply for jobs at around 2 pm.
Since early applicants tend to fare better than those candidates who apply later, you can give yourself a statistical advantage by checking for new jobs early in the week and applying early in the day. Sending in your resume at noon or 1 PM on a Tuesday could put you ahead of the competition for the newest opportunities available.
The other best time to look for a job is when you already have one. It's an unfortunate truth that it is easier to be hired for a role when you are currently employed. Whether consciously or not, employers tend to see unemployed candidates as less valuable. Plus, when you have a job, you have the security of a paycheck coming in, so you can make a strategic career move, rather than simply having to take the first opportunity available in order to pay the bills.
The busier times of year for hiring, January, February, September, and October, also tend to be the periods when more people are actively looking for new jobs. So, the competition can be fierce. There may be fewer positions open in the slower months, but the fact that there are relatively fewer applicants for those roles can also provide you with a greater opportunity to stand out.
Timing your job search: The best months of the years for landing a new job
