Looking for a new job? Whether you are just starting out in your career or looking to change it up. Timing really is everything. You are probably asking yourself when is the best time to look for a new job? First, let’s talk about the reasons you are looking for a job. You might be unhappy where you are currently working. You might just be starting out or unemployed due to the pandemic. No matter what the reason you need to have a few things ready before you start to look.
Research
When you start looking for a new job make sure to do your research. The below are questions you should ask yourself before you start. It will help to narrow down what kind of job you are looking for.
- What kind of job are you looking for?
- What is the next step you are looking to take in your career?
- What kind of company atmosphere do you want to work in?
- What are your qualifications?
Make a plan
You need to have a plan in place before you start applying for new jobs. Staying organized and having a plan of action can be the difference between landing a new job or sitting at home wondering what you are doing wrong. Be sure to have these questions answered before you start.
- When can you start working?
- What kind of schedule do you want to work?
- What is your ideal vacation time/sick time off?
- What kind of benefits do you need or want?
- How far are you willing to commute?
- Are you willing to travel on business trips?
Resume
Time to either create or spruce up your resume. Without a killer resume, you are most likely just going to spin your wheels sending it out and getting completely looked over that’s even if it makes it through. Let me explain why most employers won’t even see your resume no matter how qualified you are for the job.
Just like anything else in today’s world everything is done online. That means that the employer can filter out the resumes that actually make it through. There is a way to make sure your resume makes it to HR’s inbox. Keywords and phrases that you can find right in the job description.
My suggestion is to have your base resume and then for each job you want to submit your resume to tweak it to make sure you have the right words or phrases in there based on the job description. Then save it as with the company and job description so you know what resume you submitted to each job.
I can’t stress this enough make sure that your qualifications match the description. If you have no experience as a manager don’t falsify your resume to get an interview. Not only will you be wasting the companies time, but you will only be hurting yourself in the long run. These companies believe it or not talk to each other when they are within the same industry.
Cover Letter
Do you really need a cover letter? This is up for debate, but it doesn’t hurt to have one in case it is requested when you are applying. You will see this most time as optional, but I believe that if the option is there the company wants one. The question is are you willing to go the extra mile or not. A cover letter is an introduction to your resume. It highlights the skills and experience you have for the job.
Again this is where the job description comes in handy. Be sure the words you are using relate directly to the job description. It should be one page divided into three or four paragraphs.
When is the Best Time to Start Looking For A New Job
January & February
Now that we got all of that out of the way and you are ready to start hitting the pavement the best time to start looking for a new job is in January and February. The holidays are over and everyone is back at work. Also, this is when hiring managers and companies receive a new hiring budget for the year.
It is not only a fresh start for you, but for companies as well. They are eager to bring in new talent and fresh perspectives to help the company grow and be profitable.
March, April, May
The momentum for companies hiring in the spring is still strong there is just a lot more competition because companies usually have so many candidates during the spring months. The reason they are still looking to hire is that as companies approach the summer months they are looking to get the hiring done because in the summer people are looking to go on vacation. Its also because they are looking to fill positions for anyone who might have left during the previous two months.
June, July, August
These are the months when things slow down and companies aren’t hiring as much. This is mostly due to the hiring manager going on vacation making it harder to conduct interviews. It is also because many companies have filled their open positions during the previous months. Be patient because it does pick up again. It also gives you time to plan and research.
September & October
September and October are also one of the best times to apply for jobs because the hiring managers are back and ready to interview and fill whatever positions they didn’t during the summer months. This is all depending on the industry and company hiring structure so in my opinion January and February are still the top 2 months.
November & December
This is when things slow down again because of the holidays. It’s the end of the year so you won’t see a lot of companies hiring at this time. What is happening during these months is HR departments are concentrating on other things to prepare for the new year. I don’t what that to discourage you from applying for a job and reaching out to companies. If you do apply for a job in these months and don’t hear back from them it could be because they are waiting for the new year to begin before they start interviewing candidates.
Final Thought:
When looking for a new job competition can be stiff in the industry you are looking to be in. Being prepared and taking the time to get everything you need in order so you can land that new job is vital to your success. Make sure to keep it honest as a manager who does the hiring for my department I can tell you your resume is the first impression we get.
You can be the right person for the job with all great experience, but if your resume hits my desk looking like a hot mess I won’t even give it the time of day. It is all about first impressions so be sure that your resume is presentable and up to date before applying for a new job. I would also like to say take a deep breath when you do land that interview because they are not just interviewing you, you are interviewing them. Make sure that this new job is going to be the right fit for you and your lifestyle.
Want to know more about what my career is be sure to check out A Day In The Life Of A Production Manager
Job Resources
- Indeed
- Glassdoor
- Simplyhired
- Style Careers (this is for anyone in the fashion/garment industry)
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