Why Autumn is the BEST Time to Change Jobs (or Careers!)
Is it just me, or was anybody else more than a little shocked this morning to realize that it’s already August 1st?? The last couple of weeks have been so busy that I didn’t even know we were nearing the end of July!
Now I’ll admit, that’s a pretty big thing to not know. But here’s something even bigger: Autumn is one of the busiest hiring seasons of the year for many businesses. Did you know that? Well, now that you do, here are a few reasons to take advantage of this last month of summer, and make sure you’re prepared when hiring season hits full swing!
- Hiring Cycles
While June, July, and August tend to be slower hiring months (since recruiters, like the rest of us, want to get away on vacation during the summer!), September and October are two of the absolute best and busiest months for hiring. Understanding and taking advantage of this upswing in the hiring cycle can really improve your odds!
One reason hiring ramps up in the fall is because recruiters and hiring managers have a much easier time scheduling meetings and interviews, since there are very few holidays during this time and most people won’t be taking vacation because they did so over the summer. Also, during the last few months of the year, many hiring managers push for a staffing increase to take advantage of remaining budget for that year (if they don’t, they risk losing the funds allocated for new employees). For more information about the hiring and recruitment cycle, read Understand Recruitment Cycles to Give Your Job Search an Edge, from John Rossheim at Monster.com.
- More Daylight
The summer months are filled with the longest days we have all year. This is great because it gives us some time – and lots of energy – to spend with friends and family, grilling out on the deck, maybe down at the pool, hopefully a vacation or a road trip! But once we hit that first day of fall, the days start to get shorter and energy levels start to wane. So it’s best to ramp up your job search in August, when you still have all of that energy and daylight to spend on it!
- Avoid Another Year in a Job that Doesn’t Make You Happy
Shorter days during the late fall and winter mean fewer daylight hours and, for some, more difficulty making it through the work day. But those “dark” times are a lot easier to get through if you have a job you like! And I don’t know about you, but once November and December hit, I’m not going anywhere. I start thinking about the holidays, and then the New Year, and I don’t get back around to doing anything about my restlessness until the next spring.
- Fall and Winter are FUN Times to Join a New Company
On the other hand, when you join a new job in the fall, you have so much to learn and acclimate yourself to, that staying busy is no problem! I always felt that my favorite part of any job was the first three months or so, when everything was new and still had a bit of excitement to it. Plus, many companies plan fun activities around the fall and winter holidays, which makes it easier and more fun to get to know your new colleagues.
These are just a few of the reasons that autumn is the best time of year to search for a new job. And to celebrate the coming of the fall season, Professional Progressions is offering some amazing Autumn Deals! Don’t miss out on the chance to SAVE BIG on resume revisions, cover letters, LinkedIn profiles, Interview Coaching, and more!