When is the best time to find a new job?
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When is the best time to find a new job?
If you're reading this article, then it's possible you are considering your next career move. But when is the best time of year to find a new job? Delving into her years of experience as a recruitment consultant, Senploy's founder, Amy Allen shares her advice on when to make the move.
“Quite simply, if you're unhappy in your current role, the best time to find a new job is now,” begins Amy.
“You may find yourself day-dreaming about what it would be like to work elsewhere, feeling unfulfilled and unstimulated, or worse, you could be working in a toxic environment. These are all signs that it could be time for a change, so my advice is to get working on your CV right away and take look at what's out there.”
What are the peak seasons to change jobs?
“January is obviously a busy time;' continues Amy. “Many people return to work after the Christmas break and find they can't continue any longer. The break in routine often emphasises negative feelings about work and highlights how their current employment is no longer viable.
“Similarly, there's often an uplift in new candidates and people sending speculative CVs after the summer, when people have been away on holiday. They return feeling refreshed and ready to take on a new challenge.
“It doesn't mean these are the best times to find a new job, but it might be a time when you're more motivated to work on your CV and job applications. For me, that's something you should capitalise on before you return to the day-to-day. Time has a habit of passing very quickly and before you know it, Christmas will be here again. And so, the ‘I need a new job' cycle begins again.”
Is working in SEND any different?
“For SEND roles, specifically in education, February to June is a key time for recruitment. During these months you'll find there's an influx of teaching positions as schools look to hire for the next school year.
“31st May is another date for your diary, it's the final day for teachers wishing to hand in their notice to start a new role in September. So again, you'll find new roles appearing at this time. And with just a couple of months before the summer break, the key thing to remember for teaching jobs is that they can be filled very quickly, so if you see your dream job being advertised – apply as soon as you can.”
Below is a rough guide to the notice deadlines for teaching roles throughout the year.
- to leave at the end of the Autumn term (Dec) you should try to hand in your notice in September (and no later than 31 October)
- to leave at the end of Spring term (Easter), you should hand in your notice in Jan (and no later than 28th February)
- to leave at the end of Summer term (July), notice due after Easter or by 31st May at the very latest.
“For teaching assistant and care assistant roles, try to give as much notice as possible and work with your current employer to ensure a mutually agreeable exit date which will have minimal impact on the children and young people. A supportive employer will appreciate your honesty and by being upfront about your exit, you leave the door open for the future.”
And other SEND roles?
“While less seasonal than teaching, the busiest time for staff working in residential and care settings is during the school holidays. Additional resources are needed throughout the day as children and young people are not in school. Therefore, it's when school starts again that people have felt that burn out from such a busy holiday period and recruitment levels can spike.
“For charities it's all reliant on funding, which we all know can be complicated. The best thing to do is to keep your eye out for the latest positions on a monthly or biweekly basis. “
Think about what motivates you?
“Where there are definitely seasonal trends to recruitment, my one take away would be that you're the only one who can tell if your current job is fulfilling your needs. Think about your daily routine – does it excite and motivate you? Remember there are more things to think about than just how well your job pays - job satisfaction, workplace culture and how challenging or rewarding you find your job are all factors to consider.
“Being in your comfort zone is a dangerous place to be! So why not throw caution to the wind and embrace a change, your self-esteem will thank you in the long run. If you try something new and it doesn't work out, at least you've tried and haven't sat there thinking ‘what if'. And if it does work out and you're now in your dream job, well, aren't you glad you took that leap of faith?”
If it's time for a change, check out the latest SEND roles being advertised on our jobs board.
Looking for SEN Jobs? Click here to search our current roles
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