When is the best time to get a job in creative?

When it comes to looking for a new job, there’s no time like the present. There isn’t really a wrong or right time to start the hunt and job seekers should always be actively looking, if you wait for the stars to align and a perfect opportunity to fall into your lap – you could be waiting forever.

That being said, there are some points throughout the year that can help and hinder your application and search.

Consider when you are sending your CV/folio, or applying for jobs, if you sent a bunch applications the week before Christmas, you might want to resend. The build-up to a holiday is often when companies are busy wrapping things up before the break, so recruitment could have been pushed to the bottom of the pile and your application could have been lost in someone’s inbox.

It’s really important that you consider different industry’s hiring cycles too. The financial services industry, for example organise bonuses and budgets just before year end in April, so it’s from then on that their recruitment heats up. However in the creative industry, the cycle is not as defined, it’s client lead and dependent on the marketing cycle of individual clients. The creative industry is also reliant on business and accounts won, they’ll often require an influx of employees to work on particular projects throughout the year. It’s a good idea to speak to a specialist creative recruiter at the start of the year as they will be able to advise you on what is available now, what might be in the pipeline and how best to approach your job search.

January is undoubtedly one of the most popular times for recruiters as people either set themselves new career goals for the New Year, or they just dread going back to their current job so much that they begin the hunt for a new opportunity. The ratio of new candidates to new jobs is highest in January, by a considerable margin of around 24%. However, it can also mean that the recruitment market gets over crowded by job hunters making the task of selecting the right people for shortlist and hire more difficult. January is the perfect time for a job hunter to set a recruitment plan, work on their CV, update their folio, research the industry making a good start on the job hunt.

Most industries see a Summer time slump in recruitment, as lot of staff take their annual leave between June and August. September however, there is a surge as individuals plan to move and settle before the Christmas break comes around again.

These days, for many people, getting a new job is more about networking than spotting the perfect job advert. So make sure you are constantly up to date with industry news and always be on the look out for new connections with relevant people in your industry. There is so much to consider when you are searching for your next role – but the best way is to get yourself out there, perfect your personal brand and start searching now!

Purple are a specialist creative recruitment consultancy.
https://www.purple-consultancy.com

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