Seasonality in recruitment

Seasonality in Recruitment: When is the Best Time to find your New Role?

If you’re ready to take your first or next step on the career ladder, there are times of year when there may be more vacancies than others. As well as economic conditions and the uncertainty surrounding Brexit, there is also an underlying seasonality in recruitment which creates natural peaks and troughs in the level of demand in certain industries.

It’s important to be aware of this seasonality because it could create a false view of the number of opportunities in your sector or the level of demand for your skills, which might change your plans entirely.

Factors that affect demand

Fortunately, the level of demand for bilingual workers is high all year round thanks to the linguistic skills shortage in the UK. However, there are still times when those roles might be harder to find than others. Factors that affect the level of demand in the recruitment market include:

  • The availability of decision makers and interviewers during the summer months;
  • Limited funding available for new hires at the end of the financial year;
  • The uncertainty surrounding Brexit which may cause businesses in certain industries, particularly construction, to put new projects on hold;
  • Seasonality in some industries, such as retail in the run-up to Christmas and tourism during the summer;
  • Cutbacks in some industries;
  • The annual graduate recruitment rush.

The right time to start your search

So, when is the right time to start your search for a new role? Here’s our look at the impact of seasonality on the recruitment market by quarter.

Quarter 1 – January to March

There’s typically an increase in the number of candidates looking to change roles at the start of the year as they try to stick to those career-based New Year’s resolutions. However, with more people leaving their jobs, there is also an increase in vacancies, and this recruitment carousel makes it a good time to find a new role. After the New Year rush, the number of postings tends to fall as the end of the financial year approaches.

Quarter 2 – April to June

Once the budgets have been drawn up for the year ahead, there’s often a glut of new vacancies as employers look for new candidates with the skills to grow their teams. Although the number of roles increases, demand typically remains the same. This can make it an excellent time to enter the recruitment market. Towards the end of the quarter, graduate recruitment begins.

Quarter 3 – July to September

If you’re looking for a long-term position, the summer months are not necessarily the best time to bag a new job as many of the key decision makers are away. However, there is a big increase in temporary roles in the tourism industry which can suit bilingual candidates and students looking for work over the summer. In September, the market starts to pick up again.

Quarter 4 – October to December

The autumn is an excellent time to look for a new job as it is one of the busiest periods in the recruitment market. The end of the summer forces employers and candidates to reacclimatise to office life, which makes new jobs and filling vacant roles a priority. The education sector is also back in full swing and many events and marketing companies are on the lookout for new staff in the run-up to Christmas.

Ready to start your bilingual job search?

Now is an excellent time to search for a new role. At Linguistica Recruitment, we currently have plenty of vacancies for talented bilingual candidates. Send us your CV or get in touch to discuss your requirements.