Why the best time to find a job is now

Are you feeling stuck in your career or in need of a change? You might be in luck.

According to new data, May is the best time of year to look for new work. Data from SEEK reveals that job ads in May are on average ten points higher than the annual average. During the month of May, job applications are also below the annual average creating less competition for roles.

So, why is this the best time to find a job and what are some other time periods to look out for?

Why May is the best time to find a job

Job advertisements declined in April, due largely to the Easter and ANZAC Day public holidays. However, experts say they are likely to spike this month.

Roxanne Calder is the managing director of recruitment agency EST10. She says the end of the financial year also typically leads to an uplift in the number of advertised roles.

“After Easter and after (the April) school holidays, recruitment levels really start to build,” she told the Herald Sun.

“If (hiring managers) have money (remaining) in budgets before the end of the financial year, then you can get a whole lot of openings appearing.”

Even if you’re happy in your current role, now is a good time to consider whether a new opportunity could better support your career goals.

Which roles are in particular demand?

Of course, industries of peak demand vary at different points of the year. Marketing and communications, Information technology, human resources and legal roles are in particular demand during May. Customer service & call centre, administration and finance roles are also in high demand during May. Meanwhile, May is also a peak hiring period for many management roles.

What are some other good times of year to apply?

August is another good time of year to look for a new role, with governments and businesses reassessing their staffing needs as the new financial year begins.

On the flip side, experts say the start of the year is not the best time to look for work. Many people look for work in January, having perhaps reflected on their career goals over the Christmas break. If you choose to search for work at this time of year, bear in mind that there will be many others feeling the same way, increasing competition for roles. You will also be up against university graduates and school leavers, especially if you are applying for entry-level roles.

Tips for those looking for work

Despite this, the advice is to look for work at a time that suits you. Indeed, some companies will deliberately hire at times of year not typically associated with high levels of recruiting. This may allow them to dedicate more time to onboarding, especially important for senior roles.

If you are preparing to look for work, you should reach out to your contacts to see if they know of any opportunities available. When a suitable opportunity arises, don’t hesitate to apply regardless of the time of year.

Remember, even if there is increased competition, if you have the right skills and qualifications, you will still be in a good position to land your dream role.

No matter the time of year, making a good impression is what matters most when applying for a new role.

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