When is the worst time of year to look for a new job? The best time of year?

Answer 1

Everyone can probably guess the times of year in which hiring is most and least active. What few understand, though, is how to use this knowledge. Truly understanding the seasonality of hiring can help an independent IT professional choose projects, negotiate terms and plan for the future with an ace up his sleeve.

"There is a pattern in hiring that’s pretty much the same, whether you’re in a good market or a bad market," says Michael O’Connor, president of back-office service provider Iprofessional.com. "There are some good times to look for a job and some bad times to look for a job." Obviously, the amount of money a company spends on hiring will vary from year to year, but O’Connor says that the "curve" of seasonality remains consistent.

No one engaged in the independent contractor life will be surprised to learn that the summer, particularly August, is an unfavorable time to launch a job search. "The reason is that many of the contracts require multiple decisions," says O’Connor. "And the decision makers are not there."

O’Connor says the worst period for job seekers runs from the week prior to Thanksgiving through the end of the year. And not just because of the holidays. "It dovetails with the end of the budget year," he says. "People are running out of cash."

Hidden within this second blackout period, however, is a small blip of activity in some companies. "There’s an unusual uptick a week before the end of December," says O’Connor. "There are some companies that require you to spend your budget money because it affects your budget the following year. So, in the consulting market, they’ll either hire someone who they weren’t going to hire before, or they’ll pay money in advance for the following year."

Positive hiring trends start in January and spike in March. "There’s usually a significant increase in activity," says O’Connor. "Companies who are newly empowered by additional budget money in January have to figure out what to do with the money. It takes them a month to a month and a half." O’Connor says that the contracts that result generally start in March.

Following March, O’Connor says that there is a gradual decline through June, which is followed by steeper dips over the course of the summer. The early fall is cited as another healthy hiring cycle. "The second best hiring period is mid-September through mid-October," he says. "People get back to work and things begin to crank again." Understanding the seasonality of hiring can play a crucial role in the way an independent professional negotiates and whether he accepts a given contract. "You don’t want to have a contract that’s planned to end in one of those fallow periods," says O’Connor. "You want to plan to work through that period or, as you’re approaching that period, make an agreement with the client to cut back on your hours, your days or even your billing rate so that you have some money coming in and so you can work through those periods."

The importance of this type of planning is amplified in a down market. O’Connor says that, even in a good market, a consultant whose contract ends during a down-cycle in hiring can be out of work for a month. In a poor market, the contractor can expect to be out of work for several months. "I ask you," says O’Connor, "is it better to earn $100 an hour for six months of the year or $60 an hour all year?"

What it comes down to, says O’Connor, is a simple matter of strategy. "It’s not just a billing rate issue," he says. "It’s the nature and duration of the contract, and when the contract ends. You have to think tactically."

Answer 2

Fall and Winter leading into X-mas are bad times because companies are running down their budgets that they planned for the year. And then with holidays there are not many around. This might be a good time to look into companies you are interested in working for and learning more about them, setting up informational interviews more than job interviews, and getting your foot in the door.

February and spring are the best time's because comapnies have just initiated their new budgets, outlined what new talent they need to hire or just gotten new business, and will start looking for recruits. What I would do is in February get your resume in their hands so it's one of the first they see.

Summer gets a little slow with hiring just because again many people are going on vacation, and some companies institute shorter days.

Answer 3

The worst time is end of the year when budgets are already used up, at this time they cant even offer you more money they just bring people in at the bottom rates. So if you are to start looking I would try Febrauary because most companies are to busy in January getting their budgets established. I work as a recruiter and I know that companies start tightening their belts starting in October. Some are smart and save for the end of the year to hire people since they know that other companies cannot afford to hire someone at that time. Also it is the holiday season from Mid November till mid january. Good Luck and you have plenty of time to find a position.

Answer 4

The worst time would be in the beginning of the year. Human resources manager might be out still. There is no best time of the year. as long as it isn't the first week of January.

Answer 5

The worst times seem to be right after Christmas, and school graduation. The best time seems to be in April and May.

Answer 6

Hi ,

Always think positive. If you think nagative so I can say every year and every time is the worst time to look for a new job.
So I think every day is new day to start your new career and every time is best time to get find out new job
I got new job to follow this line
So you should follow this line and find out new job
http://www.muskan.page.tl/Best-earning-area.htm

Answer 7

Jan.-March because people are being promoted.
July-Sept. because people hire for the holiday season.