Why January is the Best Month for your Next Job

Happy New Year everyone!

As I sit back and reflect on what that phrase really means, it got me thinking about how it can be applied to the exciting world of job hunting! I want to shed some light on why I personally feel that January is the best time of the year to take on your next big challenge!

Here are the top reasons as to why the new year is the time to make that jump and take your career to the next level!

1. Companies have budgeted for new hires — The start of the new year means hiring managers have been asked to plan out their hiring projections for the upcoming year and submit the requirements. This usually includes sitting down with the finance team and allocating set amounts for each role. From a candidate perspective, this is great as more companies will be hiring, giving you more options to choose from, really allowing you to make the best decision possible and finding your dream job! Also, who wouldn’t want to start the new year with an increase in salary? ;)

2. Set the tone of learning for the year — It’s not a secret, there are many others just like you who have spent their break reflecting on the previous year and thinking about whether they could or should be achieving more in their careers. By taking a new role this will help set the tone for the year. With a new role comes new responsibilities, relationships and most importantly the development of new skills.

3. Fresh start/more growth opportunities — Everyone needs a kick in the ass sometimes to put things in motion. Why not piggyback on the New Year’s high and really get out of your comfort zone and try something new? If you’ve been in your role for quite some time and don’t feel that you’re getting the opportunity to grow or you simply feel stagnant, now is the time to try new things and get back on track as you have a full year ahead to work with. You’ve set goals for the upcoming year which means you are highly motivated to capitalize on that energy to smash your goals.

4. The optimal time for onboarding/training — Now that most companies have wrapped up their busiest time of the year, they have the bandwidth to focus on you. The first few months of the year are also “slow months”, which makes this is the ideal situation for someone starting a new role. Your direct manager will have more time to train you and provide a more comprehensive and in-depth onboarding experience. It allows you as a candidate to take the opportunity to use the slow months to ramp up and be prepared for peak season.

5. You’re just not happy/passionate about your current role — The most important thing is your health and happiness. You spend most of your time at work. If you are simply not happy or dreading to go into work, it is a sign that it’s time for a change. Ask yourself does it make sense for you to sacrifice your happiness or would you rather use your energy in a more positive and constructive manner towards something great?

So as I get back to gearing up for the busiest time of the year for myself, I’ll leave you all with this quote :

“Opportunities don’t happen, you create them.” — Chris Grosser”

Happy Job Hunting Friends!