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How many of us have done our Christmas food shop at 11pm at night just to avoid the trolley rage and sprout wars? In every part of life, we all like to eliminate as much competition as possible by trying to get a head start on our rivals. 

And when it comes to looking for a new job, timing is everything.

So, what are the best and worst times of the year to look for new job opportunities in Basingstoke?

Happy New Year

The start of a new year finds many of us thinking about all the changes we’d like to make in our lives – and that can often mean getting a new job. Companies might also be making fresh plans for the year ahead, so this can be a brilliant time to get yourself out there.

That said, bear in mind that you won’t be the only one with a ‘new year, new me, new job’ resolution. Start preparing your CV and covering letter now and come and register with us. That way, you’ll be at the front of the queue as soon as employers head back to work after the festive period.

Spring is in the air

Spring means daffodils, leaping lambs, and shiny new budgets to be spent. Many employers will hang on until April before recruiting because they’re waiting to find out how much they can spend on human resources (good news, that’ll be you!). New budgets could also mean new business objectives and projects and you might just be the right candidate to work on those…

We’re all going on a summer holiday…

Summer is a brilliant time for gardening, BBQs, and days at the beach. Sadly, it’s not the most effective season for job hunting because that’s when most people go on holiday, including hiring managers. If you do apply for jobs over the summer, the selection process could take longer than usual if key decision makers are taking a break, sipping cocktails by the pool.

The nights are drawing in

‘Back to school’ season can produce a flurry of activity in the job market as everybody returns from their summer break and business as usual resumes. However, make the most of that September and October window before the shops fill with mince pies and tinsel and recruitment starts to get de-prioritised “until the new year”.

Best day to apply?

Here at Wote Street People, we measure our advertising each month and regardless of when we post a vacancy, there is a definite pattern to when people apply. The majority of our applications come in between Monday evening and Wednesday morning.  Our theory is that towards the end of the week, many job seekers start putting things off in favour of making plans for the weekend.

So, if you’re having trouble getting interviews and feel your CV represents you accurately, why not try submitting it on a Thursday or Friday?  You’ll be more visible to the person reading the applications if you strike at a time when they have fewer CVs to read and you’ll stand out like a beacon of light.

Avoid Sunday afternoons, though!  Your application may just end up in the spam filter because many company email firewalls limit the amount of emails at the weekend due to the onslaught of junk that comes through.

What if the best time is simply right now?

No matter what time of year it is, there are always exceptions to these seasonal patterns. If you need a job, there’s never a wrong day, week or month to be looking.

It pays to understand the business cycles that are affecting the industry you’d like to work in. Use any slow periods to do your research and build your network, and remember that jobs can become vacant at any time, so stay positive and remain proactive.

If you are looking for a job in the Basingstoke area or you are a company requiring new staff, Wote Street People can help. Call us to day on 01256 799127 or email Maxine@wotestreetpeople.co.uk