Good job hunting takes time. Now is that time to start.
While you’ll sometimes see churn at the end of the year – my old shop, for example, is hemorrhaging as people leave and folks complain on GlassDoor – but most people who are want to move to a new job tend stay in their roles through the end of the year and start job hunting in the first quarter of the new year.
That delay is a mistake.
While the saying is good things happen to those who wait, the better line sometimes attributed to Abraham Lincoln is more accurate; “Good things come to those who wait, but only whats left from those who hustle!”
If you’re thinking of moving in 2020, start job hunting NOW.
It’s true that those lucky people who receive end-of-calendar-year bonuses usually are smarter to stay around until they get paid – either moving to the new role after January 1 (if the company has a calendar fiscal year as many – but not all – do) or being an employee when the bonus gets paid (typically in January – March).
But it takes time to find a job and a running start seldom hurts anyone. Start now to find the best job to get hired in 2020.
And the best job? The role that gives you the a good chance to be challenged, grow and successful, pays fairly and with a supportive boss and an organization that is a culture fit.
That sort of match takes time, frequently happens before a job is created and posted, and occurs because people meet you and want to bring you on board.
For companies with calendar year budget cycles, budgets are going through the budget grind right now with headcount releases planned out for the 2020 year. Some roles will be released in January, others earmarked for different stages throughout the year. Many hiring managers know now what’s on the hiring roadmap for next year.
And hiring slows down right about now as recruitment typically hits an end of year slowdown mid-November and lasts through the end of the 2019 year. Why? People who are are bonus eligible are inclined to want to stick around until their bonus is paid; many – but not all – employers are inclined not to pay out forfeited bonus as the end of the year. So a lighter candidate flow inbound (because people are more likely to interviewing active job hunters versus people not looking to move now) means less candidate traffic.
So that slowdown means hiring managers have “extra” time now. They’re not actively interviewing folks, have an idea what they’ll be doing in 2020, and are frequently available for coffee – IRL or virtual – or lunch/breakfast. When January hits that sort of availability decreases or disappears. So in late November and December, with the luxury of a little added time, people can have “real” conversations – not the time pressed 20 to 30 minutes allotted for many interviews.
Here’s an earlier series that holds the test of time for what works in job hunting. As someone who has led major talent acquisitions, and finished helping my old shop grow from 3 to 330 people in a few short years, there may be some helpful thoughts.
Choose Me, Hire Me! – Part 1: Show Up
“Know Yourself & Networking” – Part 2 of the series “Choose Me, Hire Me!”
“And Don’t Forget to Do Your Homework” – Part 3 of the series “Choose Me Hire!”
“Making New Friends (The Interview)” – Part 4 of the series “Choose Me, Hire Me!”
“Goldilocks Returns” – Part 5 of the series “Choose Me, Hire Me!”
“The Witness May Now Take the Stand” – Part 6 of the series “Choose Me, Hire Me!”
10 Secrets Headhunters (Usually) Don’t Tell You – Part 7 of the series “Choose Me, Hire Me!”
It’s Late at the Candidate Pub: Part 8 – “Last Call” – of the nine part series “Choose Me, Hire Me!”
You Kiss a Lot of Frogs to Find a Prince(ss) – Part 9 of 9 of the series “Choose Me, Hire Me!”
Life Back West is an occasional set of writings focused on ways people, teams and organizations can be both more effective (doing the right thing) and more efficient (doing the right thing well). More about my 30+ years of work coaching execs, start up and leadership teams can be found at the “About J. Mike Smith and Back West, Inc.” sidebar at the Back West blog. Now welcoming new and known clients.