There are a lot of things to think about when looking to hire for a new role. The recruitment process can be complex, but it’s one that you need to get right if you want the best for your business. Seasonal recruitment trends can affect the success of your hiring strategy, and they are something that must be considered during the process.
We often hear that hiring slows down in the summer. Is this true? We discuss this in the guide below and also look at other seasonal recruitment trends to determine how they can impact your hiring processes and your business. Read on to learn more.
Does Hiring Slow Down in the Summer?
Summer is the season we all look forward to the most. It’s when most of us will take time off to visit another country or simply to relax and enjoy the sunshine here at home. However, it’s for these exact reasons that summer can be an inopportune time for recruitment.
If you are looking to hire for a new role, you may notice that applications slow to a crawl during the summer months. Candidates could be on holiday or could have picked up temporary summer work. Similarly, as a business owner, you might find it difficult to conduct interviews during the summer, as you’ll need to find time around your team’s annual leave and the summer plans of your interviewees.
A summer slowdown is one of the most well-known seasonal recruitment trends, but it’s by no means the only one. Let’s find out more.
New Graduates
If you’re looking to hire for a new role, one of the best approaches is to look to onboard new graduates. These candidates will be fresh out of university and eager to kick-start their careers. They’ll be enthusiastic and motivated, perfect for giving your business the boost it needs.
University students generally graduate from April to early June. Recruiting during this time of the year can be an effective strategy and means you’ll have access to a large pool of potential candidates.
The Post-Summer Boom
While recruitment slows down during winter, it picks up again during the autumn and throughout the winter. This can be an excellent time to start hiring, candidates will have returned from their summer holidays and will be eager to find work, and your team will be back together and ready to kick-start the recruitment process.
The run-up to Christmas is a busy time for many businesses. We often see a recruitment rush during this period as businesses scramble to ensure they have the staff required to meet rising demand. If you are hiring during this period, remember that you’re going to be competing with an increasing number of other companies.
New Year, New Opportunities
Of all the seasonal recruitment trends, the most important is the opportunities available at the start of a new year. Throughout January, February, and March, we see a spike in businesses recruiting and in candidates looking for work.
There are two primary reasons for this. First of all, the new year sees new budgets drawn up, and it also marks the beginning of a new financial year for many businesses. As a result, businesses will have the finances and resources required to grow and expand and will be looking to bring in new talent to help them do so.
Another reason is that January is a time when many people take stock and reflect on their lives and careers. New Year’s Resolutions might sound corny, but they have a verifiable impact on the recruitment market, and we see job searches increase during January as people look to change or advance their careers.
If you’re looking to hire new staff, January can be the perfect time to do so.
Conclusion
Seasonal recruitment trends can impact the success of your hiring strategy and can determine the quantity and quality of applications you attract. Recruitment slows down in the summer, so the best time to start hiring is generally during the post-summer period or, better yet, at the start of a new year.