Wondering when the hottest periods for hiring are, and when the best time to apply for a new job would be? Contrary to popular belief, it's not January. Here's what the data shows.
People leave jobs or change jobs all the time, of course. And new opportunities are always being created as companies replace employees who have left, staff up for new projects or hire to add needed skills to a team.
That being said, there are periods of the year that are hotter for hiring than others, and one of the best periods is fast approaching.
The best time of year to find a job
People often assume that hiring peaks in January as businesses get going again after the holidays with new budgets and projects for the new year. While it's true that there is a distinct spike in job openings advertised in January, this is inflated by the fact that hiring was so slow in December.
Your odds of getting hired in January are negatively affected by the fact that so many people launch new job searches at the beginning of the year. This causes greater competition for every available job.
The months where the number of job advertisements exceed the yearly average are November, February, March, May, June, and October.
December, of course, is the slowest month for hiring, followed by August.
So, as plans are mapped out and people jump ship in January, hiring is about to pick up for February and March. Statistically there is a drop again from March to April before things bounce back in May and June. However fewer candidates also apply for jobs in April, so competition for the available jobs is actually lower in the spring.
The best time of the week to apply for a new job?
Most jobs are posted online earlier in the week, with the heaviest concentration on Tuesdays. That's also the day with the most applications -- and notably, the day of the week when most hiring gets done.
So what's so special about Tuesdays? Candidates who apply for jobs when they first become available have the greatest chance of catching the employer's eye and at least being considered for the first round of interviews.
The majority of candidates apply for a job within the first week of it being posted online. So the longer you wait, the more likely your application is to get buried under a pile of incoming resumes that the employer may not need -- or have time -- to read.
The later you apply for an open position, the stiffer the competition you will face. Apparently this is the case not only for the day that you apply for a job -- but also for the time of day.
Data shows that 11 a.m. is the most common time that employers post their new job opportunities online. Most candidates apply for jobs at approximately 2:00 in the afternoon. So, the best time to find and apply for a new job and get your resume on top of the pile ahead of the competition? Apparently it's between 11:30 and 12:30 on Tuesdays.
However if you miss that window, there is a secondary, smaller spike in job postings going online at around 4 p.m.
When looking for a new job - as in many things in life - timing can be everything. February has more job openings becoming available and fewer applications for them than January. From now through the spring could be the right time to make your move.
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