Discover the best month to get a job!

Looking for a job can be challenging under the best of circumstances, from putting together a top-notch resume to practicing your interview skills. But, there is one more thing that you can do to stack the odds in your favor: knowing the best month to get a job. Like most things, hiring is often cyclical, and throwing your hat in the ring at just the right moment could be the extra “oomph” you need to get the job you want. 

In this article, we’ll discuss:

• What are the hottest hiring months?

• What is the “September surge?”

• Is December a bad month to look for a job?

What are the hottest hiring months?

While it's possible to get a job any time of the year, there are months where it’s much easier but it depends on the industry. In general, January and February are the hottest hiring months in most fields. The main reasons are a new yearly budget, the desire to start the New Year strong with new employees, and the need to fill a backlog of open positions. But remember, along with more openings comes more competition for jobs, so you must be prepared to grab a company’s attention. 

Spring (March, April, and May) is also a good time to get hired, as recent or soon-to-be graduates are starting to enter the job market, and many companies will be on the hunt for new talent. By this time, many companies have begun their new fiscal year and have their hiring budgets in place; they'll be looking to fill those open positions from the winter.

What is the “September Surge?”

You may have heard of a phenomenon called the “September Surge” making its rounds on social media. While some experts are skeptical and feel it’s just a catchy alliterative hashtag, the concept has been gaining steam.  Some companies are planning their budgets for 2024 and may decide that they need extra labor power to hit their goals. And employees hired in the fall are more likely to be up to speed in January, alleviating some of the need for increased hiring come the New Year.

On the other hand, some view September as less of a “surge” and more of a “modest bump,” limited to mostly seasonal hiring, according to Guy Berger. The principal economist and head of macroeconomic trends at LinkedIn says, “…despite discussions about a hiring spike in September, our historical data indicates that even in an uncertain economy, January remains the busiest month for hiring.” So, the surge might be less of a hiring frenzy and more of a slight uptick with hiring managers trying to get caught up before the holidays.

The hardest months of the year to look for a job

You can probably already guess what the hiring slow season is. November and December, loaded with holidays from Thanksgiving to New Year's Day, are the worst time of the year to look for a job (apart from seasonal retail work—Black Friday, anyone?). This is due to the large number of managers and other hiring authorities being on vacation. It’s also the end of the fiscal year and they may be low on hiring funds and are focused on planning and developing strategic initiatives for the upcoming year. 

Plus, companies have already filled most of their permanent positions by now, so there are fewer job postings overall. But while it may be hard to get a job in December, opportunities can present themselves at any time, so be prepared. Don’t wait until the last minute to polish up your resume or update your social media profiles. This way, you’ll be up to speed when January rolls around.

Looking for a job over the summer is no picnic, either. A lot of the decision-makers are on vacation, and new hires won’t get approved without them. Many of the positions are summer jobs targeted at students, so hiring managers will be busy filling those. Additionally, after the winter and spring hiring, there may not be many available openings. While hiring is still possible, expect delayed response times as employers scramble to work around hiring managers’ summer holiday schedules.

Do you need to wait until the time is right to apply for a job?

If you're in no hurry, you might want to hold off until January or the summer. But, if your current job situation is untenable, then don't wait—get started on your job hunt, no matter what time of year it is. Remember that it is still possible to find a job and companies (industries) may operate on different schedules. Giving yourself enough time to prepare will help avoid coming off as desperate and build the confidence and skills to make you more appealing to a new employer. This will help ensure you find the right job for you any month.

Need help polishing your resume? Check out Career.io’s Resume Builder tool, which will provide you with expert-tested professional resume templates and AI-generated “smart suggestions” to help you stand out from the crowd.

Key takeaways

1. The best months to get a job are January and February, followed by the spring months.

2. The most challenging months to get hired are the summer and November through December.

3. There appears to be a “September Surge” in hiring, but some experts feel it’s limited to seasonal jobs.