Hack your commute: Get a head start on the job hunt

If you’re thinking of changing job in the new year, it makes sense to get a headstart and think about potential prospects now.

jobs

Early January is the time of the workplace epiphany, when people follow the mantra ‘new year, new you’ and start seeking new job opportunities. But chances are, if you’re likely to be making that decision a month from now, the reasons for it should be just as pertinent in December.

While it might not seem the best time to get your head in the game of trawling through job ads and polishing your CV, there should be no time like the present.

Once you get under way with a few applications you’ll probably realise that getting feedback on the suitability of your skills and experience for the roles you want can drastically alter your approach to applications. So even if there are fewer vacancies advertised in December, it’s a better time to start having those conversations so you’re further down the road.

Data from Executives Online confirms there are more job ads posted in January than December, but it’s also a month when huge numbers of people start their job search. That means there’s a lot of competition for each vacancy. It also means recruiters and hiring managers aren’t likely to have time to give you detailed individual feedback in January. Getting it in December means you’re in a better position in February and March, when the data shows the vacancy numbers are higher than average.

December is also a good time to work out which are the best websites to use, in order to find the kinds of role you want. And once you’ve done that, you can spend time setting up email alerts for the keywords and job filters that return the most fruitful results. Again, doing this before the new year will mean no lost time or missed opportunities when the number of ads picks up.

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