Some people say that hiring ramps up before the New Year. Others say that hiring slows down during the holiday season.
Rather than worrying about how quickly companies make hiring decisions, job seekers should focus on what they can control, such as how intensely they search for jobs.
Increase your chances of winning that key job by following these tips from The Electrochemical Society Career Center:
- Keep an up-to-date resume – If you’re looking for a new job, it’s essential to periodically update your resume. Don’t wait until the last minute. Use a resume template that you can easily customize to match the job description.
- Learn new skills or gain new experiences – Our careers are never-ending. We need to constantly upgrade our skills and learn about new areas to advance. Take a certification course to increase your marketability.
- Learn more about the projected job outlook for research scientists. What skills do experts think hiring managers look for in candidates?
Be aware of your industry’s hiring cycle. According to Business News Daily, January and February are the busiest hiring months for companies, not during the summer when things slow down. Best times? Job boards tend to be updated at the beginning of the workweek and late mornings. However, the opposite may be true for academia which tends to develop job descriptions during the spring, posts new jobs in the summer or fall, interviews in October and November, and makes job offers in November and December. Research and government positions have their own cycles.
Be persistent and don’t give up. Getting started can be the most challenging part of job hunting. We all have schedules that sometimes prevent us from preparing or advancing in our careers. However, take some time each month to improve your skills or practice mock interviews. Lastly, never give up. Regardless of the time of year, starting the search takes time and patience.
