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Why Q4 is the Best Time of Year to Start Your Job Search

f you’ve been on the hunt for a new job, there’s a pretty good chance you might be sending out fewer resumes as the year winds down. You might even think that most companies slow—or even stop—hiring during the fourth quarter. So why not pack it in for the holiday season and get caught up on your favorite shows instead, right?

If you believe that, you might be sabotaging your own job search. There’s a common misconception that no one hires during Q4. The reality, however, is that companies around the country are actively recruiting to have open positions filled for the new year. In fact, according to an October 2017 survey by CareerBuilder, 43% of all employers are looking to make permanent hires before the year is out, up 9% from this time last year.

This is the perfect time for job seekers to get a foot in the door for many reasons. Here are just a few of them:

It’s All About the Budget
Perhaps the greatest myth surrounding the Q4 hiring slump is that most businesses have blown through their annual hiring budget. Some companies might be maxed out but there are plenty of employers who still have money left in the year’s budget. The time-honored adage of “use it or lose it” certainly applies in this scenario, and no company wants to leave money on the table when it comes to recruiting the best talent available. And if they don’t spend their head count budgets this year, they may find that they won’t get the same amount next year.

Companies that are also looking to get an additional tax break before the year is out are usually spending more on recruiting and the advertising costs associated with it during those last final months, so there’s no better time to get a jump-start on your job search.

Start the New Year Strong
It can take weeks to get ramped-up when you start a new job. That alone means that by October, many companies will be well on their way to making plans for the new year—and that often means bringing in new talent to help execute those goals. Instead of hiring someone in January, it’s much more beneficial to hire someone in the months before so their new hire can be fully onboarded and ready to contribute once the calendar rolls over.

Don’t forget that companies in many industries experience a slow period between Thanksgiving and Christmas. That’s the perfect time for a company to train new employees.

A Leg Up on the Competition
The common misconception that few companies hire during Q4 is something that works in your favor, and you’ll have better luck scoring interviews due to the decreased competition from few applicants. If you wait until January to start your job search in earnest, your resume may be drowned in the slush pile with the rest of the “New Year’s resolutions” job seekers. This can dramatically reduce your chances of landing an interview—no matter how qualified you might be.

Need one more reason to focus your job search during Q4? You could benefit from a speedier hiring process. Lower applicant rates and lighter calendars can make it much easier for recruiters to schedule interviews with a hiring manager.

Even if a company isn’t hiring for the final quarter, it’s still the perfect time to network and get ahead of the competition for next year. Come January 1, you might be the first person they bring in for an interview—or the first person to receive an offer.

It’s a Job Seeker’s Market
The job market is stronger than it’s been in over a decade. That means recruiters are in fierce competition for top talent, giving job seekers vital leverage when looking for new roles and negotiating salaries and benefits. That’s just one more reason why there’s no time like the present to double down on your job search.

Hiring never slows down at Johnson & Johnson—even in Q4. We’ve got thousands of positions available at Johnson & Johnson locations around the globe. Apply today. We can’t wait to meet you.

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