When Is the Best Time to Get a Job?

The start of the year is when you usually take stock of what’s been happening in your life. This tends to be the time when most of us are thinking about where we want to be in the future. It’s not a coincidence, then, that it’s also the time when people usually think about changing their jobs or applying for one that is more suited to their career paths. This is also the time when job applicants flood the market, as the start of the year also coincides with corporate budgets being refreshed and so there are usually more job opportunities. However, that means you’ve got a lot of competition within the market, so when is really the best time to get a job?

Be wary of December

If you have just received your year-end bonus on December and you want to quit right away, consider your job prospects. Most businesses are winding down due to the holidays and most Human Resource Managers are focused on making this time fun for their employees. The end of the year also means that budgets for any new hires are almost depleted.

The case for January

While job seekers flood the market at the start of the year, it’s also the time of the year when budgets are released. Hiring managers have the most leeway in terms of budget, because hello, the year has just started. Data culled from Indeed (the job aggregator website) by the BBC indicates that January accounts for almost 10% of the job ads for the year. So yes, January is a great time to get a job.

What about the rest of the year?

Time get job
Do you want to be lugging your resumé in torrential rain?

It really depends on the country. For example, in the Philippines, it’s hard to look for a job during the rainy season. This is from June to October. Not because of any lack of job postings, but because when you add torrential rain to the traffic in Manila, it causes a phenomenon called carmaggedon. In GCC countries, in another example, it’s not a good idea to start your job hunt during the month of Ramadan. Ramadan for 2020 is from April to May, although the exact dates may vary. You may want to check out the best months in the country you want a job in.

The best time is when you need it

At the end of it all, you can’t really wait for a time six months from now if you need a job right away. If the timing sucks, though, all you can do is to give yourself a fighting chance to bag that job. One way to make sure you rise above the competition is to get a TrueProof for your documents. It impresses on your potential employer that your qualifications have been vetted thoroughly. Some industries (such as healthcare) give a premium for professionals who already have their primary source verified documents. With your own myTrueProfile page, you get the benefit of a digital resumé that can be made visible to potential employers. Having your own myTrueProfile makes every month the best month to get a job.

If you are not already signed up to TrueProfile.io, sign up now!

About the Author
Stephanie McKee
Stephanie McKee
Group Head of Marketing
Stephanie McKee is the Group Head of Marketing at the DataFlow Group. Based in our Dubai HQ, Stephanie focuses on the benefits of international opportunities for job seekers and healthcare employers and how to optimize these processes. She has worked at TrueProfile.io and the DataFlow Group for almost 5 years and regularly contributes to our expert blog.