Omicron may be closing down businesses, schools, sporting events and concerts, but the job market is still strong. As of December, the United States government data shows that over 11 million jobs are available. There is a Great Resignation trend in which millions of Americans are quitting their jobs in record numbers. The stage is set for a good time to hunt for a new job.
January is one of the best times of year to seek out a great new job. The start of a new year universally ushers in a warm feeling of promise and new beginnings. Mentally and emotionally, it feels right to start searching for a new opportunity. The action fits in nicely with a person’s New Year’s resolutions. People promise themselves that they will lose weight, stop smoking or drinking, go to the gym, quit complaining about annoying co-workers and micromanaging boss and secure a better job.
Traditionally, over the Thanksgiving Day through the New Year, hiring slows down, as people focus on other priorities. Even though we’ve been careful during the holiday season, most of us have carefully taken vacations, held family gatherings, dined out and met with friends.
During the holiday season, there was a lighter workload, as it’s prime time to take vacation and personal days. There’s a collective feeling that it’s customary to kind of coast during the last few weeks of November to a little after New Year’s Day. Since there’s a slowdown, bosses didn’t feel the pressure to interview and hire.
By the second or third week of January, things get back to normal. While it didn’t matter that much during the holidays, coming into mid-January, work picks up and the absence of a key employee is felt by everyone. Supervisors become motivated to quickly find a replacement to ensure that the staff is keeping up with their responsibilities.
There will be fear that if a replacement isn’t found for a departed employee, the remaining workers will feel aggrieved that they are forced to pick up the extra workload. In a tight job market, especially one in which it’s become socially acceptable to quit with a moment’s notice, businesses recognize they must act fast and hire— otherwise, risk seeing a huge increase in attrition.
Be prepared; although January is a great time to find a new job, the first couple of weeks are usually slow moving. The wait for final budget approvals for hiring, engaging recruiters to find suitable candidates and preparing and posting job listings online takes time, especially as people stretch out their vacations into January. Year-end reviews, raises, bonuses and promotions linger into January. Based upon the results, many employees may decide to switch jobs if they feel overlooked and underpaid.
Sectors, such as Wall Street, pay out a sizable portion of compensation in bonuses. Banks can hold off on paying the bonuses up until about March. It’s a cold strategic move to impede an investment banker, broker or trader from leaving, as they’ll forfeit their bonus if they quit before it’s paid out. Potential job seekers delay their job search plans out of fear of being found out and jeopardizing their year-end bonus. Even if an offer is given, oftentimes, the company may not be inclined to buyout out a bonus, stock and other rewards.
The wheels slowly turn. Human resources and hiring managers log into their applicant tracking systems to view résumés that were previously sent back in early December and late November. New entrants into the job market send out résumés and contact recruiters. Fresh positions are placed on LinkedIn, Indeed and other job boards. Slowly, as some time passes, job seekers and hiring managers get back into the rhythm. After weeks of taking it easy, they gradually accept the new reality.
Some bosses must move quickly. There are usually openings that have been left unfilled for months and the direct hiring manager is now motivated to hire. The job may have been posted in November, a few people were interviewed, and then it got lost in the holiday malaise.
To get a jump on the competition, start right away. Update your résumé and LinkedIn profile, contact recruiters, visit job boards, prepare and practice your elevator pitch and network. In a few weeks or months, there will be considerably more people to go up against in the interview process. This holds true for hiring managers as well. Get the job description completed, call some recruiters and begin interviewing before your competition jumps into the game and steals the best candidates away from you.
In many states, there are laws against asking a candidate about how much they earn. In these locations, you don’t have to disclose your compensation. For the companies based in the U.S. where they are allowed to ask how much you earn, tell them about any year-end raise or other benefits that you anticipate or will lose if you leave. Otherwise, if you don’t, their offer may be equal or lower than what you are currently earning and it will be a waste of time for everyone.
An important part of the job search that goes overlooked is your mindset. One of the biggest challenges job seekers have is that they carry around baggage—angry with what’s happening at their current company and frustrated over being treated so shabbily.
Even though it’s a hot job market, managers got spoiled with years of being able to be highly selective and critical of candidates. They still haven’t come around to the new war-for-talent environment. There is a glaring gap between reality and what managers perceive the job market to look like.
Consequently, the new trend in hiring is not very job-seeker friendly. Résumés are overlooked and phone calls, emails and texts are unanswered. After numerous interviews, you may be ghosted and never hear back. The robotic software may disregard your résumé. since it didn’t contain the exact words and phrases that the AI technology is programmed to find.
When people feel resentment and bitterness toward their current job, the interviewers sense hostility. Intellectually, they understand that you’re in a toxic environment. However, the hiring manager and others involved with the interview process don’t want to inherit any potential problems. They may feel that it’s you and not the fault of your manager and co-workers. The hiring personnel will politely pass on your candidacy and move on to other applicants.
You want to build a positive attitude and mindset that radiates confidence. Put any bad feelings and animosities behind you. Don’t carry it around like a weight on your shoulders. Start out your search with a fresh clean slate. The goal is to exude positivity, confidence, drive, enthusiasm and motivation.
While it may be slow at first, the market picks up speed as time goes on. There will be challenges, but keep in mind, you control your own destiny. If you put in the time, effort and energy, you will prevail and find a new job in 2022.
Source: Forbes
