What months do most jobs hire?

Is Summer a Good Time of Year to Hire?

Just like the weather, hiring trends change with the seasons. The new year tends to start with a bang as many companies have a fresh budget to spend. The fall months are also regarded as a peak hiring season before slowing down during the winter holiday season. And spring is generally viewed as a consistent but not overly-busy time of year to hire.

But what about summer? Like life in general, the warm and sunny months are a relaxed time of year when it comes to finding new employees. In fact, summer is often said to be the worst time of year for companies to hire. Let’s explore why.

Summer is for vacation and relaxation

The major reason hiring slows down in the summer is because both job seekers and hiring decision makers go on vacation and get outside after work. Recruiters tend to believe talented professionals aren’t looking for new opportunities during their free time. They’re likely spending their evenings or weekends outdoors rather than checking out job boards or careers websites to see what’s available.

The vacation season also makes it difficult for companies to assemble a successful interview team . It’s a good idea to have candidates meet with the hiring manager, potential team members, a senior manager and maybe even someone from an outside team during interviews. But scheduling an interview on a day everyone is available is already hard enough – and becomes even more difficult when employees are away from the office for extended periods of time.

Many businesses slow down in general during the summer so it makes sense that hiring falls into a lull too. Unless there is an urgent need to fill a position, many recruiters and hiring managers opt to be patient until September.

Depends on the industry

Of course, not all industries slow down during the summer. There are many hospitality and tourism businesses that serve all the vacationing white-collar professionals and their families. These companies temporarily expand their summer staffs in anticipation of the peak business months.

Most hospitality and tourism businesses strive to be entirely staffed up by the start of summer or even late spring. According to a survey from CareerBuilder , 31 percent of summer seasonal employers complete their hiring before May, 34 percent finish during May, 20 percent finish during June and the remaining spread hiring out through the season.

Front-loading hiring before the busy season takes off sets the business up to train and prepare its new hires while it’s slow. It also allows them to focus on their primary operations during busy months instead of devoting resources to interviews and onboarding.

Go against the grain

Even though summer is commonly viewed as the worst time of year to hire, a strong case can be made that companies shouldn’t pump the breaks from June through August. Contrarian thinking is often rewarded in business and a great candidate can be landed while everyone else sits on the sidelines.

Urgency is typically important when hiring but a slow yet active approach can pay off during the summer. Many professionals are distracted by the nice weather but it doesn’t mean no one is looking at job boards or careers websites. Consider posting an opening and collecting applications for a week or two longer than you normally would so you don’t miss out on a potentially great candidate.

It’s also fine to extend the interview stage longer than your company usually takes. Just be sure to let candidates know what your timeline is and keep them updated throughout the process. If someone on your hiring team is away, simply send an email letting the candidate know and promise to follow up when they return.

Since summer is a slow hiring season, chances are slim you’ll lose a talented candidate to another company so don’t be afraid to take your time.

Trakstar Hire is considered the most user friendly hiring software on the market. If you’re ready to take your recruiting and hiring to the next level, request a Trakstar Hire demo today.

What months do most jobs hire?

Do you have questions about job searching or navigating the interview process you’d like answered? You’ve come to the right place. In our Ask a Recruiter series, we share a question that’s frequently asked by job candidates and the answer we’ve shared with them. This question was from a job seeker who wanted to know what month most companies hire.

Is there a better time of year to apply for jobs? I have always heard that the summer months are not the best time nor around the major winter holidays. If this is the case, what month do most companies hire?Kind Regards,Just LookingJust Looking–As recruiters, we are ALWAYS filling positions for our clients. You are correct in thinking that certain times of year are more optimal, but it really depends on how you look at it–what may be pros to some are cons to others. There will always be openings–people leaving, terminations–that sort of thing. You’re goal as a job seeker is to figure out who has the need (remember not every opening is public knowledge) and make yourself known on their radar via corporate or retained recruiters, referrals, or through other connections. Any month, with the right groundwork, can be a fruitful month for searching. We’ve broken it down the search outlook further below:

Job Search Outlook by Season

Winter Hiring Forecast

DECEMBER

◊ Less competition–more jobseekers “pause” their search during the month on December for holidays◊ Decision makers opt to use up remaining vacation time & may not be easily reachable◊ Decision makers use the holidays as a “quiet time” in the office to finish out the year & are easily reached◊ No more budget expenditures–hiring is put off until new/more budget availableOn the fence about searching during this time of year? Check out this popular article on searching during the holidays–it just might convince you to go for it.

JANUARY & FEBRUARY

◊ Budgets for the year & hiring needs are know–candidates who’ve already applied are ahead of the game◊ New year, new job. People itching to make a move start searching now, bringing more competition◊ Companies who missed earnings marks at the end of the quarter & the year tighten belts & hold off on adding headcount or, bring on more to course-correct for a brighter Q1/Q2◊ Decision makers are around & ready to bring on new hires–better chance of reaching the right people

Spring Hiring Forecast

MARCH, APRIL, & MAY

◊ More competition in general in the market–people eager to make their move before summer when many people take off◊ Most advertised/open jobs tend to appear in these months­–hiring managers eager to fill roles before vacation◊ Companies slow to ramp into “hiring mode” in winter make their move now when market & talent pool is prime◊ Conference season & networking opportunities aplenty–those consider a career move have improved odds of learning about “unadvertised” openings directly from decision makersWhen is the last time you updated your LinkedIn? If it’s time to tidy up your professional social profile, The Muse has numerous great articles for doing just that.

Summer Hiring Forecast

JUNE, JULY, & AUGUST

◊ Decrease in competition– employed jobseekers forgo search during the summer to take or use their vacation time◊ Decision makers take vacation time & may not be easily reachable◊ Decision makers use summer to plan for hiring needs before EOY & are more easily reached–especially if they are helping cover for others being out of the office◊ Entry-level job competition is tougher–new graduates & already placed interns spell decrease in openingsSchool may be out, but professionals and new grads should use these months to prep for a successful search if starting a new job before the end of fall is high on their priority list. Our summer school/get-a-job bootcamp series can guide you through every step of the process.

Fall Hiring Forecast

SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER, & NOVEMBER

◊ Hiring managers eager to use what’s left in headcount budget before EOY◊ Key decision makers back in office from summer vacation & getting kids back to school◊ Financials for first half of year become available & hiring managers ramp up efforts to interview & make offers before holidays◊ Conference season part two–great means to learn of “hidden” opportunities before they’re advertised

Month with the Best Outlook

As you can see from our breakdown by seasons and month above, every month has its advantages and disadvantages. The month with the best opportunity, from what we’ve seen historically, has been September, followed closely by October. Hiring managers are eager to fill open positions before budgets go away at the end of the year.School is back in session and people are back in the office and not out on holiday–which means the chances of reaching the right individuals tend to be better now. These months are also a good time of year to bring a new hire on and get them ramped up, so that by the new-year, they’ll be in full productivity and output mode­–or well on their way.

Planting the Seeds of Job Search Success

No matter what month or season you decide to conduct your search it’s important to keep in mind the time it will take you to find your next job and make the transition. Networking, keeping your skills sharp, an up-to-date resume and LinkedIn profile will help ensure that you’re ready to act when you find the right opportunity or it comes to you. By planting the seeds of job search success early, you’ll be reaping what you’ve sown in no time.If you’re looking for a new job opportunity, we’d be happy to help you with your search. We have lots of current openings that may be what you’re looking for. If there isn’t a position that matches your career goals, we encourage you to submit your resume to our general application. That way should a position open that matches your skills, we’ll have your resume on file for immediate consideration. Be sure to check out our other articles in our Talent Tips category for additional info on job searching, working with recruiters & much more.Wishing you a successful search,Neteffects’ Ask a Recruiter Answer Team

The Best Time of the Year to Apply for Jobs (and When to Avoid)

There are certain times in the year that can be referred to the best time to look for a job. Many things can influence when people choose to look for a new job. But when is the perfect time to start your search from a recruiter’s perspective?

Keep tuned and find out how to succeed in your job search using simple statistic data!

When is the best day to apply for a job?

According to Bright.com research, Monday and Tuesday tend to be the best days to submit your application. More than 30% of people who applied on these days made it to the next stage of the hiring process. On the contrary, Saturday is the least successful day.

When is the best time to apply for jobs?

Speaking about the time of day to start sending applications, so many job seekers search in the earlier part of the day and after their evening meal.

As a general rule, it is recommended to apply during the business hours from Monday to Friday; in such a way you boost your chances of getting visibility and won’t be buried under a pile of other applications. Indeed data shows the busiest time for job hunt is between 11 am and 2 pm. So, the best time to press a «send» button for you will be 6-11am and 2-3pm. TalentWorks survey states, early birds have +13% chance of getting an interview comparing to night owls. The less effective time is after 4 pm.

But what about months? Which of them are the best months to apply for jobs? To begin with, let’s start with a little hint: start job hunting when the company you want to work for isn’t actively looking for a prospective employee.

When should I start applying for jobs?

Winter

• December. Some companies may have the positions to be filled by December, 31. But, there’s a slowdown this month. It’s practically pointless to search for a job. However, looking on the bright side – there will be less competition from other job seekers if you do make up your mind to start your hunting.
• January. The beginning of the year is the perfect time for getting hired in most industries. It is the best opportunity for a fresh start. Many companies get their new hiring budget, especially in these months. Besides, some companies pay annual bonuses in December, so lots of people wait until January to quit their job and their replacements will be hired precisely in this time.
• February. Not every manager is eager to start the hiring process in January, so February is the second month, which is ideal for it and thus – still a busy one. If you are searching for jobs, it is nasty outside, and the calendar shows you its February – you are the lucky one! It is the time when greatest decision-makers are in the office together. Don’t miss your fortune!

Spring

• March. Even though companies hire more new team members during January and February than in the first month of spring, March is also good, although you should understand that there’s more competition. The employee must practice a lot and prepare for the interview to meet all the requirements.
• April and May. In spring, tourism is starting to gear up. As you get closer to summer, companies encounter more stress to finish the interview process and hire the perfect candidate with an excellent resume. Actually, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in April is one of the “hottest” months both for recruiters and job hunters. So try to overwhelm the interviewer’s expectations with your awareness of the position you are willing to work for.

Almost all companies hiring for the summer post their vacancies by April or May, so if you are interested in a seasonal job to start considering this fact from early May, not later.

Summer

• June, July and August can be tough months in job searching. It doesn’t mean there aren’t any jobs left, but there’s a downturn in hiring at summer. If you made a decision to apply during these months — you need a little bit more patience and courage to face some difficulties. There are fewer applicants during these months, as it’s a vacation So, cheer up and do your best to be the first one with your summer job applications.

Autumn

• September. In September the hiring process begins to pick up the steam. Recruiters desire to make hires and use the budget before the end of the year.
• October. Is this better than January or April? Let’s say, it’s the second best for sure! October is the peak in the fall. Companies that slow down on hiring during the summer will compensate by ramping up during the months that follow. And you should take advantage of it. However, be aware of the holidays. Both managers and recruiters tend to hire and onboard new employees before they came.
• November. The beginning of November can be stable and intensive, but, the second part of it isn’t the best one to start your hunting for a new position. HR managers pull aside their hiring goals and save things for the beginning of the next year.

What are the advantages of seasonal or summer job?

A summer job is an excellent opportunity for extra earning. While someone prefers to rest and reload after a hard year, you can invest in your future and spend this time for your benefit. You face the chance to supplement your income and gain valuable work experience. Seasonal employment keeps you moving forward. It gives you the possibility to learn essential life skills.

Summer

If you are thinking about a summer job, you must be aware of the fact that the busiest recruiting window for summer opportunities is January. This window continues up to March, so if there is a specific organization you want to work for, start applying exactly in these months. The hiring season can begin in October and run through May or June of the year of. The only thing, which you definitely should do, is applied before the holidays. In another case, you will be obliged to wait until recruiters get back to work. That is not difficult to do and that is not such a big deal. All the information usually is presented on the site of the company and you can get in touch via e-mail or by phone.

Winter

If you are thinking about winter seasonal job, so the best option for you will be to start considering this fact in July or at the beginning of August, as this is the time when ski resorts and warmer climate winter locations will begin to post their openings. Sometimes the job posting may last until December and in some cases even until January. It all depends on the number of employees needed, on whether aspects, the expected number of guests, etc. If there is a certain company, you are longing to work for in winter, don’t wait and tell them about your candidacy as soon as possible, to be sure you will not miss the chance of additional wages.

Simple tips to keep in mind while looking for a job

You don’t have to give up on the idea of finding a new job just because of the month of the year. The slow hiring months are optimal for preparation for your search and enhancing the chances of getting the job of you have always dreamt about. Follow the checklist below to get ready for the hunt!

1. Make company It is rather important to know at least the basic information about the company you willing to work at. It’ll help you to understand the company values, their goals, and will help you to avoid disappointments on the future interview.
2. Work on your resume and cover letters. It’s essential to have an impeccable resume and personalized cover letter. Try to update your resume once in six months or at least each year. Don’t forget resume is your earliest written contact with a potential employer and it’s creating a crucial first impression.
3. Develop your skills. We must continually upgrade our skills and add to our professional growth by attending different courses. There is no better investment than an investment in ourselves and our knowledge. You should be aiming to add certifications, training and professional development to your record.
4. Stay inspired. Sometimes it is the hardest part to begin searching for a job. A lot of questions arise in your head, for example, “How far in how far in advance should I apply for a job,” “Which difficulties will I face during my job hunting?” and so on. Despite all the fears, it’s vital to stay positive, laid-back and confident in everything you’re doing right now and be sure that it will help you and motivate in your further career. As Eleanor Roosevelt said — “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”

The advice above will help you to apply at the most appropriate times to get more interviews, so you can end the daunting process of your job hunt sooner.

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