'Tis the Season to Start Your Job Search

Most people who know me well know this: I am a fanatical golfer, spending most of my weekends during the warmer months chasing a little white ball (generally through the woods!).

Being a lifelong resident of Connecticut, this time of year is a killer for my favorite pastime. Yet, I don’t let staying indoors keep me completely isolated from my favorite activity. I learned a while back that it makes sense to stay active, work on my short game, do core muscle exercises, etc. This way, when the snow finally melts, I’ll be ready to go- without wasting the first few weeks of the golf season shaking off the “rust”.

Wait. What? This is a golfing blog??

Unfortunately it’s not, but the parallels to what I see in recruiting are right there. What job seekers don’t often realize is the seasonal impact on hiring. Companies go through hiring cycles, largely impacted by the time of year.

Q1 is one of the peak times for companies to push their hiring initiatives. Use that to your advantage. A huge number of candidates considering a move wait until after the holidays to act, thinking: “Companies won’t have time to interview during the holidays”, “I don’t have any vacation time left to take off to interview” or, “I’ll wait until January-when all of the good jobs are posted”...

Don’t wait until January, when your competition will also be getting on the job market:

Get yourself out there!

Work on your resume and LinkedIn profile, develop your networking skills by talking to people in your industry, including specialized recruiters. This will give you the confidence and push to get started. 

Take time to inventory your skills and what you love to do.

Taking time to figure out what you love to do, skills you may not have been able to put into practice, will point you in the direction of companies that would be a good fit. So ask yourself ‘what do I love to do?’, ‘what am I passionate about?”

Work with a recruiter who can put you in front of a hiring manager NOW.

The lack of candidate activity at the end of the year greatly favors the individual who stays active. Use this to your advantage against the applicants who wait until AFTER the holiday season to engage recruiters, and beat them to the finish line before they even start their search.

So, you see, getting back in the “game” before your competition, will put you in an advantageous position come the New Year-- while everyone else is busy shaking off the holiday rust.