CAREER TIPS - Here’s Why January Is The Best Time Of Year To Find A New Job
Posted 18th January 2022 • Written by Jack Kelly on forbes.com • • • • •
Omicron may be closing down businesses, schools, sporting events and concerts, but the job market is still strong. There is a Great Resignation trend in which millions of Americans are quitting their jobs in record numbers. The stage is set for a good time to hunt for a new job.
January is one of the best times of year to seek out a great new job. The start of a new year universally ushers in a warm feeling of promise and new beginnings. Mentally and emotionally, it feels right to start searching for a new opportunity. The action fits in nicely with a person’s New Year’s resolutions. People promise themselves that they will lose weight, stop smoking or drinking, go to the gym, quit complaining about annoying co-workers and micromanaging boss and secure a better job.
By the second or third week of January, things get back to normal. While it didn’t matter that much during the holidays, coming into mid-January, work picks up and the absence of a key employee is felt by everyone. Supervisors become motivated to quickly find a replacement to ensure that the staff is keeping up with their responsibilities.
There will be fear that if a replacement isn’t found for a departed employee, the remaining workers will feel aggrieved that they are forced to pick up the extra workload. In a tight job market, especially one in which it's become socially acceptable to quit with a moment's notice, businesses recognize they must act fast and hire— otherwise, risk seeing a huge increase in attrition.
Be prepared; although January is a great time to find a new job, the first couple of weeks are usually slow moving. The wait for final budget approvals for hiring, engaging recruiters to find suitable candidates and preparing and posting job listings online takes time, especially as people stretch out their vacations into January. Year-end reviews, raises, bonuses and promotions linger into January. Based upon the results, many employees may decide to switch jobs if they feel overlooked and underpaid.
The wheels slowly turn. Human resources and hiring managers log into their applicant tracking systems to view résumés that were previously sent back in early December and late November. New entrants into the job market send out résumés and contact recruiters. Fresh positions are placed on LinkedIn, Indeed and other job boards. Slowly, as some time passes, job seekers and hiring managers get back into the rhythm. After weeks of taking it easy, they gradually accept the new reality.
Some bosses must move quickly. There are usually openings that have been left unfilled for months and the direct hiring manager is now motivated to hire. The job may have been posted in November, a few people were interviewed, and then it got lost in the holiday malaise.
To get a jump on the competition, start right away. Update your résumé and LinkedIn profile, contact recruiters, visit job boards, prepare and practice your elevator pitch and network. In a few weeks or months, there will be considerably more people to go up against in the interview process. This holds true for hiring managers as well. Get the job description completed, call some recruiters and begin interviewing before your competition jumps into the game and steals the best candidates away from you.
An important part of the job search that goes overlooked is your mindset. One of the biggest challenges job seekers have is that they carry around baggage—angry with what’s happening at their current company and frustrated over being treated so shabbily.
Even though it's a hot job market, managers got spoiled with years of being able to be highly selective and critical of candidates. They still haven’t come around to the new war-for-talent environment. There is a glaring gap between reality and what managers perceive the job market to look like.
Consequently, the new trend in hiring is not very job-seeker friendly. Résumés are overlooked and phone calls, emails and texts are unanswered. After numerous interviews, you may be ghosted and never hear back. The robotic software may disregard your résumé. since it didn't contain the exact words and phrases that the AI technology is programmed to find.
When people feel resentment and bitterness toward their current job, the interviewers sense hostility. Intellectually, they understand that you’re in a toxic environment. However, the hiring manager and others involved with the interview process don’t want to inherit any potential problems. They may feel that it's you and not the fault of your manager and co-workers. The hiring personnel will politely pass on your candidacy and move on to other applicants.
You want to build a positive attitude and mindset that radiates confidence. Put any bad feelings and animosities behind you. Don’t carry it around like a weight on your shoulders. Start out your search with a fresh clean slate. The goal is to exude positivity, confidence, drive, enthusiasm and motivation.
While it may be slow at first, the market picks up speed as time goes on. There will be challenges, but keep in mind, you control your own destiny. If you put in the time, effort and energy, you will prevail and find a new job in 2022.
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