Job Search and Recruiting Seasonality – by Ron Bates

If you're either looking for a job, or looking to hire employees, have you ever thought about the reality that recruiting is a seasonal sport? I'm constantly amazed at the number of not just candidates, but also employers that either aren't aware of this or don't integrate this reality into their search strategies.

Most corporations start the year with a new recruiting budget. The busiest time of year is typically the first quarter as far as recruiting activity is concerned. The second quarter of the year is almost as busy as the first quarter. The third quarter of the year is typically much slower than the first two quarters for a number of reasons but mainly: summer holidays/vacations, and most of the hiring for the year has been done. The fourth quarter of the year typically starts to pick up with companies trying to capture new employees that can be on board by the start of the upcoming year, and realizing that if they don't spend any remaining recruiting budget they will probably lose it for the following year.

So what?

If you are a job seeker, you need to realize what part of the year you're in to manage your own expectations consistent with the number of opportunities that are probably available, and construct a job search campaign strategy aligned with your objectives and the present seasonal recruiting reality.

If you are an employer, you need to realize what part of the year you're in to manage your own expectations consistent with the number of opportunities probably available and competing for the same candidates you're trying to recruit, and construct a search campaign strategy aligned with your recruiting objectives and the present seasonal recruiting reality.

Regardless of being a job seeker or an employer, remember that industry average time to fill a position is between 90 - 120 days. Networking - is the best way to shorten that time.

Happy Networking,

Ron Bates
Managing Principal
Executive Advantage Group
rbates@executive-advantage.com

www.cv-advantage.com
www.job-search-campaign.com
Connect with me on LinkedIn

network, networking, sales, selling, relationships, job, search, career, resume, CV