As the nights draw in and temperatures drop and a carpet of leaves forms all around, it’s clear that autumn has arrived. With the chaos of summer over, but before the madness of Christmas starts to kick in, consider how autumn may be the perfect time for you to consider your next career move. Cosy up with a pumpkin spiced latte and read on as we share some tips on why autumn is the perfect time for you to land your next role.
Recruitment activity picks up at this time of year
Directors, HR managers and key decision-makers are often being on holiday in the summer. This means the hiring process tends to slow down within certain businesses. Once normality resumes in the autumn, companies usually begin planning their goals for the coming year. With this, often comes structural changes, internal moves and promotions. All of this internal restructuring creates a wealth of new opportunities for job seekers.
Seasonal jobs become available
Many businesses see an influx of customers during the holiday season and a seasonal increase in sales. Of course, this increase in trade creates an abundance of temporary job openings. If you’re looking for temporary, seasonal work, autumn is the time to update your CV in preparation for a job search.
Of course, temporary work may not be the answer to your long-term career goals. But if an opportunity presents itself as temporary, there’s no harm in applying. The reason we say this is that employers don’t like to let go of good employees. Most employers will try to find permanent positions for good temps if the opportunity arises in January and February.
Networking takes on a new lease of life
With the summer holiday behind us and the kids back to school, activity steps up a gear. September is when businesses and professionals start getting serious about networking and hosting important business events during the autumn.
Networking events present great opportunities for candidates to make vital contacts. Attending events and making connections can help build your reputation as an expert in your field. Knowing an insider can make it easier to get a foot in the door of a desirable employer.
So! … Where should you focus your efforts during the autumn?
With evenings drawing in and the weather turning colder, we all find that we spend more time at home. Using this time wisely can boost your employability and make your job application stand out to hiring managers. Although it’s not always easy to know where to focus your efforts for maximum impact during the autumn months.
Update your CV – Is your CV up-to-date? If not, get ready for an autumn job search by updating you CV. Highlight your most recent work experience, including any training, qualifications and personal achievements, as well as your past achievements. Spend time tailoring your CV, to maximise your chances of getting an offer for the job you’re applying for.
Get networking – As mentioned above, the networking events’ calendar can tend to go ballistic during autumn. Give your employment success a head start, by being active on the networking scene. Attending events and introducing yourself to influential figures and employers in your field will gain you recognition.
Hone up your transferable skills – Now’s a good time to hone up and polish your transferable skills. For example, brushing up on your communication skills, whether it’s written, verbal or digital, will make you a capable asset to any organisation. Not to mention ensuring you come across more confident and articulate in an interview.
Practising your presentation skills can also help make you a leading contender for a new position. Many companies require employees to deliver compelling presentations to customers, colleagues and clients. A great way to hone up presentation skills is to volunteer for lead projects that require presenting during meetings.
Candidate giving a presentation during an interview – It is not unusual for companies to ask candidates to prepare a presentation at some point during the interview process. The rise of social media platforms means that marketing skills are easy to develop now, more so than ever. You don’t have to be on every social media channel available. Although the profiles of the ones you are on should be consistent. It is extremely common for employers to check out applicants social media channels as part of their background checks. Keep this in mind before sharing anything you might not want them to see.
Improve your problem-solving skills – When you’re job-hunting in the autumn, use your time wisely. Practice being resourceful and improving skills associated with identifying problems and finding solutions. Problem-solving skills are easy to improve by visualising a problem and looking for ways to overcome it. Employers value individuals who can solve problems quickly, efficiently and diplomatically. Being simple but creative in your solution can often have a better impact than complex, long-winded lectures.
A few final thoughts on an autumn job search
In addition to an abundance of jobs, we also see an increase in job applicants during autumn. So while it’s true, autumn is a perfect time for job hunting, your application must stand out against the increase in competition.
We hope you found this article useful. If so, please share it on social media where others can benefit from it too. And if you are ready to start applying for that dream job this autumn, why not upload your CV to Recruited UK today?
