The start of a new year universally ushers a feeling of promise and opportunity. We set new year resolutions, aim to create healthy habits and for many, get the urge to change roles and apply for a new job.
Is this a feeling that you can relate to?  If so, you’re not alone.
Research shows that 75% of employees actively explore new opportunities during the month of January, with activity on Company profiles on Glassdoor skyrocketing by an average of 55% during this period. People have spent the time off during the Christmas period reflecting on their current role and what they do – and don’t – like about it; nudging many to make a switch.
And although this may sound like a crowded time to job search, January is in fact one of the best months to secure your next role.
Let us tell you why.
More Opportunities
Naturally, as the end of a year approaches, businesses use December as a month to round things up, slow down (slightly) and tie up loose ends upon the approach to the festive period. No major decisions are made, budgets are waiting to be realigned and used in the new year, and hiring is paused. For job searchers, this means a smaller pool of opportunities to apply for and a lack of fresh vacancies to review.
That all changes in January.
Already, in the first 2 weeks of 2024, 180,000 new job adverts have been published! That’s a remarkable 134% increase in new adverts compared to the week before. Recruiters have come back in the new year feeling motivated to secure candidates for their clients, and eager to see what talent is out there. Partnering that with having fresh eyes on their job adverts and how to make them even better, the quantity of job ads couldn’t be greater.
Although there may be more competition within the market and for the roles that you’re applying for, as long you have enhanced your CV, developed your Linkedin presence and proactively reached out to recruiters, there’s no reason as to why you won’t be considered for a conversation. Want to know more about how you can stand out to a recruiter during January? Click here.Â
New Budgets
Q1 of the year, for many, is the beginning of a new fiscal year. Companies have more money to fund hiring, both in terms of the salaries they can offer and the help they can source in recruiters to secure talent.
Leaders have a better idea of the type of resource they need to achieve the years targets and have forecasted how and when budgets can be spent.
For you, this means greater opportunities.
When applying for new jobs, you may notice some that have a salary range on them. These can be your ‘financial golden-nugget’ during the January job search. Having this salary bracket gains you a stronger bargaining power when it comes to negotiating salaries, compared to the end of the year when budgets are tighter. As long as your skillset match directly – if not more – than what the company is asking for and you leave a memorable impression during the interview process, you’re more likely to secure a higher range wage during January and February.
Strategies and Projects Mapped For The Year
January provides fresh opportunities to implement new plans and strategies that have been mapped out for the new year ahead. The first month of the year serves as a great time to begin fresh projects with a whole 12-months ahead to complete them.
As a new hire, this provides you with the chance to be involved in projects from the very beginning.
What does this mean for you?
The feeling of career fulfillment is paramount to mental wellbeing. Feeling valued in your role has huge knock-on effects in multiple personal and professional aspects; from peer recognition and opportunities of promotion to executing your role to a greater standard due to generally feeling better in yourself! Plus.. working on whole projects are great additions to your CV for future job searching!
Wait Until Mid-January
Job hunting can feel like a full time job.
The time is takes to update and tailor your CV, connect with recruiters, scroll through job boards, speak to recruiters... the list goes on. And naturally, after doing that for what can feel like weeks or months, it can get tiring, with motivation and enthusiasm depleting.
So, wait until Mid-January to begin applying.
Many recruiters put out job adverts during the first week of January, which means that by the second week they’ll be eager to get CV’s over to hiring manager to secure interviews. Take advantage during this time and proactively reach out and make yourself seen… they’ll be glad to hear from you!
However, You Need To Consider…
Although January brings with it a huge amount of career opportunity, naturally, competition will be higher (as we mentioned that the beginning of this blog)
Here’s how you can overcome this:
- Your CV Needs To Sell You.
Ensure your CV is up to date, includes your latest experience (clearly time stamp them) and highlight key technical skills you have. Recruiters will look out for these when initially skimming CV’s before deciding who to reach out to, so make sure yours is clear and precise! - Recruiter Are Your Best Friend.
We can’t say it any louder.. but work with a experienced recruiter to help secure you the best role on the market. They have the contacts and knowledge to put you forward for great positions so utilise this resource. Meet V7’S specialist recruiters here. - Don’t give up!
Losing momentum will only slow you down and hinder you from securing your next role, so make sure you designate time to have phone calls with recruiters and conduct research.
Browse through our latest jobs to find the position that suits you.
