When searching for a new job, it is easy to find yourself overwhelmed in a sea of applications. With so many positions appearing all the time, you might wonder what the best times to apply for jobs is. Well, research shows that there are certain times of the day, week, month, and year that are the best times to apply for jobs.
To make your job search easier and propel you to success in your career endeavors, we did the research and whittled it down into a list of the top 10 best times to apply for jobs. Before you send out your next application, you need to stop and read the following guide to make sure your resume makes it to the top of the recruiter’s pile.
Best Times to Apply for Jobs FAQ
1. What Is the Best Time of Week to Apply for Jobs?
Image source: Pixabay
When examining the best times to apply for jobs, it is worth considering the top times during the week. Most companies post new jobs in the early part of the week, particularly on Tuesdays.
As a result, Tuesday is when most applications and largest number of new hires are done. While Tuesday may seem like a random day, it is important to note. If you are looking for jobs and apply to them when they are first posted, you have a better chance of your resume being seen by a recruiter and being invited to interview.
In fact, about 60 percent of job seekers apply during the initial week of a job being posted. The longer you delay sending in your application, the more probable it is that your resume will get lost in the mix. When you wait for days or weeks after they have posted a job to apply, you will fight more competition.
Best Times to Apply for Jobs FAQ
1. What Is the Best Time of Week to Apply for Jobs?
Image source: Pixabay
When examining the best times to apply for jobs, it is worth considering the top times during the week. Most companies post new jobs in the early part of the week, particularly on Tuesdays.
As a result, Tuesday is when most applications and largest number of new hires are done. While Tuesday may seem like a random day, it is important to note. If you are looking for jobs and apply to them when they are first posted, you have a better chance of your resume being seen by a recruiter and being invited to interview.
In fact, about 60 percent of job seekers apply during the initial week of a job being posted. The longer you delay sending in your application, the more probable it is that your resume will get lost in the mix. When you wait for days or weeks after they have posted a job to apply, you will fight more competition.
2. What Is the Best Time of Day to Apply for Jobs?
Along the same lines, the time of day matters when considering the best times to apply for jobs. 11 o’clock in the morning is the top time that employers put up new job postings on the internet.
The majority of job seekers apply for new positions around 2 o’clock in the afternoon. If you want to make sure hiring managers see your resume and get a head start on the competition, you need to send in your application between 11:30 and 12:30 on Tuesdays.
If you cannot send in your application during that period, there is another time that wins second place for the best times to apply for jobs. That hits at about 4:00 in the afternoon.
3. What Is the Best Time of Day to Interview for a New Position?
Image source: Pixabay
When examining the best times to apply for jobs, the best time of day to interview for a new position also bears mentioning. If a company contacts you to schedule an interview, try to set your meeting for some time in the morning hours.
Recruiters have a tendency to look at candidates interviewed in the latter portion of the day compared to those they met with earlier. So, if you are a competitive candidate who meets with the recruiter earlier in the day, it will imprint you on their mind when they meet with less impressive candidates later.
4. How Should You Time Your Follow Up?
One key component of the best times to apply for jobs is the art of the timely follow-up. You should do yours via a short email, sent to anyone you met with.
You need to send your follow-up email later in the afternoon after your interview or the first thing the next day. Your follow up should express your thanks for their time and effort to see with you, reiterate your interest in the position, and include additional details pertinent to your candidacy.
If you have not heard from the company by a few days after the point they were supposed to contact you, it is appropriate to send another follow-up email or make a phone call. Take care with this approach as too much follow up could irritate potential employers and undermine your position.
How We Reviewed
Image source: Pixabay
We reviewed the best times to apply for jobs based on their unique aspects, pros, and cons. There are many trains of thought in existence regarding the best times to apply for jobs, so we did careful research to ensure that each of the listed times had been found tried and true by job seekers in the current market.
We also took various industries and roles into consideration when compiling our list. Some months may be better times to apply for certain jobs than others, so we picked the best times to apply for jobs that would cater to a variety of careers and job seeker needs.
What We Reviewed
- January
- February-March- April
- April- May
- June
- July
- August
- September
- October
- November
- December
January
If you were intending to send out applications during the busy holiday season but never got around to it, January is one of the best times to apply for jobs. If you are job hunting in January, you find that the hiring market shrinks in January, as new postings are put up on the internet but new hires are not made just yet.
That said, quite a few companies increase their hires in the first quarter of the year. January is one of the best times to apply for jobs because companies put a renewed focus on increasing their workforce after the downtime of vacations and the holiday season.
Some employees retire or switch to new jobs at the end of the year, so January is when many employers are looking for replacements. You will face steeper competition in January since candidates everywhere emerge into the job market seeing new opportunities for the year ahead.
Pros
- Companies increase their hires this time of year
- Plenty of opportunities for job seekers as employees retire or look for other positions
Cons
- More competition
- Companies put job postings up and interview but the actual hiring usually happens later
February-March- April
This period made it on our list of the best times to apply for jobs because February is when the true hiring season starts. Some hiring managers are not ready to hire candidates in January. With all the jobs posted in January, February is the month where recruiters sift through more resumes and winnow down applications.
Throughout this first quarter of the year, the hiring process booms, so continue to send out applications diligently. This period reaches its peak in April, the month where the most job postings and hires are done.
Pros
- More jobs posted
- More hires during these months than others
Cons
- Busy first quarter means more competition
- Some job seekers might find it difficult to wait until April when the most hires are completed
April- May
For anyone working in hospitality, tourism, or education, the best times to apply for jobs are in this April-May period. The spring is when these industries prepare for the summer ahead.
Schools plan for the upcoming school year, post positions, and interview candidates, although the fall semester is months away. Most hiring managers want to bring new candidates on board before the summer starts and management takes their summer vacations.
Pros
- Perfect time of year for professionals in tourism, hospitality, education, or similar sectors
- You could secure position months ahead of starting it
Cons
- Not the best time of the year to send in applications across all industries
- Could require considerable planning
June
June is one of the best times to apply for jobs because this is when the summer starts. The hiring process is not as active as during other months, but you will still see job postings put up, especially earlier in June.
This is because in the early part of the month, most schools are still in session and summer vacations have not quite begun yet. So, if you missed the other months previously mentioned, do not give up when June arrives.
If you do seasonal work, you will find employers looking for short-term gigs too. However, when compared to other months, June is a much slower time for job seekers and new hires.
Pros
- Good for seasonal workers
- Plenty of jobs earlier in the month
Cons
- Much slower month for job seekers when compared to other times
- Your job search could drag out longer if you start it in June
July
July is one of the slowest months on record when considering the best times to apply for jobs. Managers are more likely to be on vacation, reducing the number of essential decision-makers on hand to review candidates.
Most companies experience a significant reduction in their workload and pace during the summer. So, if you send out your resume during July, it might end up getting buried in someone’s inbox while they’re away on vacation.
July is not only a slow month for hiring but for finding jobs. Many of the potential candidates seeking jobs are on vacation, so while the demand is low the supply is less too.
On a positive note, if you send out applications during this time, you will, in fact, face less competition than you would during other times of the year. If you continue to network throughout the duration of the summer months, you may get the inside scoop on an organization’s hiring goals for the upcoming fall.
Pros
- Less competition than other times of year
- Good option if you have time on your side and do not need a new job right away
Cons
- Very slow month for hiring and job seeking
- Your application has a greater chance of being lost in the pile
August
August is a multifaceted month when examining the best times to apply for jobs. The beginning of August is like July as far as application opportunities and hiring goes, but things change in the middle of the month.
By mid-August, potential candidates and companies alike are planning for September and the upcoming quarter. The initial half of the year’s financial reports hit, so companies work on details for the 4th quarter. You will notice new job opportunities being posted during the latter half of the month, so be ready to send out applications as soon as things ramp up.
Pros
- Companies are planning for the 4th quarter
- More opportunities posted later in the month after a slow summer
Cons
- Very slow at the beginning of August
- Look closely for new job postings at the end of the month—otherwise, it will be difficult to beat the competition
September
Once September hits, you are back in one of the best times of the year to apply for jobs. This is the month when everyone is back from summer vacations and back to the daily grind once more, hiring managers and potential candidates included.
The initial half of the year’s financials are out. With a better idea of the budget for the remaining months, hiring managers are ready to hire new employees before the year’s end.
Pros
- Financials are out so companies have set budgeting goals for new hires
- Everyone is back from vacation which means hiring managers are back on track to review candidates
Cons
- May be a slow start when compared to earlier in the year
- More competition as candidates flood the market once more
October
Remember how April is one of the best times to apply for jobs early in the year? Well, October is the equivalent of the latter part of the year. As the application and hiring process gets a slow start in September, October is when things are finally back to normal.
October is the peak month for job seekers and hires alike. Managers need to bring on new hires before the holidays start, particularly because things slow down again once that period hits.
Pros
- Peak hiring season for the latter half of the year
- Good time for new hires and seasonal employees
Cons
- Could be a stressful period as things rev up again
- Managers will be under more pressure to bring on new hires before the holidays
November
The beginning of November is better when considering the best times to apply for jobs, but the latter part brings the Thanksgiving holidays which slows things down. If you want to send out applications during this time of the year, try to send them out early in the month to build on the momentum of the peak in October.
Later in the month, you will see a considerable slow down in jobs posted and new hires being made.
Pros
- Early in the month builds on the peak hiring time in October
- Managers still trying to fill positions before the year’s end
Cons
- Later part of the month slows considerably
- Could be way more competitive as candidates vie for spaces before hiring season dies down again
December
This month is probably one of the worst if not the worst time to apply for a new job. In the period between Thanksgiving and the New Year, hiring slows to a crawl and fewer jobs are posted.
Very few companies are hiring during this period, so this is something to remember when thinking about the best times to apply for jobs. Some organizations may still have roles that need to be filled before the end of the year. As such, keep an eye out for new opportunities just the same.
Pros
- Good time of year for networking, especially with holiday parties and events
- Easy to pinpoint if hiring managers will be out of the office when sending in your application
Cons
- One of the slowest months to apply for jobs
- Most companies are not posting new positions at this time
The Verdict
When considering the best times to apply for jobs, several months make the cut above the rest if you want to secure a position faster. If possible, try to apply in the months of January, February-March-April, June, or October.
That said, new jobs will be posted throughout the other months and it is possible to be hired during these slower periods. Just remember that you will have to look harder for positions and probably face steeper competition for fewer jobs.
