Timing is key when it comes to looking for a job. Though people find jobs throughout the year, there are certain peak hiring seasons that are easier times than others.
Knowing the peak hiring months can help you maximize your search efforts at the times when your chances of success are the highest.
If you are one of the 52% of employees who are willing to leave their current role for a better position, take a look at our guide on the best time to apply for jobs, and then let us help you improve your resume with our AI resume builder.
Peak Hiring Months: When Do Companies Hire the Most?
Below, is a guide on the best months for a job search for you to send in your optimized resume with a template that fit your sector.
January and February: the early bird catches the worm…
The start of the year is one of the peak hiring months. It’s a fresh start for companies, and many have new goals and initiatives that require new employees.
Employers tend to refocus on recruitment after New Year’s Day.
According to Hays recruitment agency, February is the best month for job seekers to find new opportunities. Recent data shows that February often sees a high number of job postings, meaning it might be the right time for you to find that new role you’ve been after.
However, if you’re asking yourself, ‘When do companies hire the most?’ this trend suggests that the beginning of the year is a particularly active period for job seekers and employers alike.
March, April, and May: spring into action…
The spring months are still good months for finding a job. Though many companies contract new staff in January and February, the hiring process is time-consuming, so the start-of-year recruitment drive tends to extend into the spring.
Employers generally want to fill positions before the start of the summer, which means there is a sense of urgency in May. Managers are generally planning their summer holidays and want to fill job vacancies beforehand.
June, July, and August: great for vacations, not vacancies…
The summer (more July and August than June) is generally one of the worst times to look for a job. Managers and human resources personnel are more likely to take time off for the summer, which slows down the recruitment process.
Businesses tend to avoid making critical decisions and focus on the basics over this period. However, this doesn’t mean that you won’t get lucky, so please don’t stop looking over the summer.
If a job is advertised in August, it means it’s urgent, otherwise, the employer would wait till Sept. Also, job searching in August means less competition for you since there are fewer applicants than in the other months.
September to November: harvest new opportunities…
September, like January, is a time for renewal. The summer’s over, everyone’s back from their vacations, and it’s back to business as usual. The slowness of the summer and the growing need to fill positions mean that autumn is one of the best seasons to find a job.
If there are open vacancies, there will be pressure to fill them as soon as possible after the summer. Human resources personnel are refreshed, relaxed, and focused, which makes the recruitment process quick and smooth.
December
The beginning of December marks the beginning of a recruitment slowdown. People are looking ahead to their Christmas holidays and trying to complete their end-of-year tasks.
There are parties to plan, shopping lists to complete, and human resources personnel, managers, and accountants generally have piles of paperwork to fill out. Remember that January is just around the corner. Sometimes, businesses place adverts in December with January interviews in mind.
Best Time to Look for a Job by Industry
While understanding the general best months to apply for jobs is valuable, hiring trends can vary significantly across different industries. Knowing when specific sectors are most active in their recruitment can give you a competitive edge in your job search.
Here’s a breakdown of hiring trends by industry.
By understanding these industry-specific hiring trends, you can tailor your job search strategy to align with the best times to look for jobs in your field. This targeted approach can improve your chances of landing a job in your desired industry.
How To Optimize Your Resume for Peak Hiring Season
Finding professional opportunities during the months when employers hire the most requires a sharp, up-to-date resume.
Make sure your resume is ready with our AI resume builder by doing the following:
- Open our AI resume builder to receive instant, tailored suggestions.
- Update your introduction with our AI summary generator.
- Review recent job postings and align your skills and experience with employer expectations.
- Update your work history with measurable results.
- Check formatting, readability, and contact information to avoid missed opportunities.
Once you update or create your resume, get your resume checked by experts to guarantee that it is ready to win over a hiring manager.
Struggling with Resume Writing?
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FAQs
The best times to apply for jobs are the start of the year and the fall. These are windows of opportunity for most job seekers, but you’ll also need to consider your industry.
This doesn’t mean you should give up during the slower months. Opportunities can present themselves at any time. Read these tips for writing a winning resume to maximize your chances of reaching the interview stage.
The slowest hiring periods are typically late summer and the end of the year. During these periods, managers are on vacation or companies are closing budgets and planning for the following year.
While opportunities still exist, the number is usually much less than at other times of year, unless you work in education or in retail stores.
The time it takes to land will depend on a number of different factors, but on average, it can range from three to six months.
The amount of time your job search takes will typically depend on your industry, when you apply, your experience, and the quality of your resume.
Networking with professionals, tailoring your resume, and applying often can help you find a job faster.
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