Autumn can be a period of self-reflection for many of us. With summer ebbing away, people who are unhappy in their current job roles will be feeling frustrated. Sunshine and milder temperatures can make a difficult role easier to cope with, but as temperatures begin to dip, finding a new job after a summer spent slacking off will become a priority.
December is officially the quietest month for job listings, according to this infographic from BBC Capital. This leaves just a couple of months to kick-start your job search before availability takes a dive at the end of the year. So, what can you do over the autumn season to help your job search?
With Christmas approaching and the New Year on the horizon, you’re likely to have a number of conflicting thoughts in your head about whether a career change is right for you at the moment.
Take some time to get focused and discover what you really want financially, physically and emotionally, so your job search can be targeted and precise from the very beginning. With summer out of the way, now couldn’t be a better time to regroup and re-energise. This might mean seeing what’s out there prior to the official launch of your job search, or working with your current employer to discuss what career progression and development they can offer.
Searching for a new job in a sector you’re passionate about isn’t easy. It’s extremely time consuming, which makes juggling your search with your current role and other commitments, such as family and non-work activities, crucial. Rework your schedule to ensure you can successfully manage all your commitments, including the demands of your autumn job search. How much time you dedicate to job searching will depend on your circumstances. The Balance Careers recommends striking a balance that helps you get your search off the ground without risking burn out:
“It would be easy to say that finding employment should be the person’s full-time job, but, realistically speaking, 40 hours per week of job search activity would be more than most individuals could handle. A more reasonable target for would be 25 hours per week for those who are not working in an interim job or an internship. For those who are working, 15 hours per week would be a more suitable allotment of time.”
You’ll need to make time for CV and cover letter preparations, filling out and submitting applications, following up submissions, telephone interviews, and face-to-face meetings. This long list of job hunting requirements may seem impossible to fit in, but trust us, it’ll all be worth it!
Missed the boat to launch your autumn job search? Don’t worry. Use the time between now and the New Year, when job listings tend to increase again, to perfect your CV. Here’s how to write a great CV, which includes tips to enhance its format, length, layout and content.
Getting professional advice and support from us is the perfect place to begin, whether your job search has just begun or you’re looking ahead to the future. We specialise in recruiting marketing and BD professionals within the professional services sector, offering the widest range of positions across the entire sector, courtesy of our strong relationships established over the last decade.