Why the Recruiting Cycle is Cyclical
What you will find in this blog:
- Cyclical recruiting events
- New year hiring boost
- Third quarter surge
- End of school year for recent grads
- Summer slump
- Fall frenzy
- Holiday hiatus
- Cyclical recruiting happens every year
If you have noticed busy and slow times in your job hunt, you are correct. The recruiting cycle is cyclical, meaning it goes through predictable ebbs and flows throughout the year.
Yes, I said predictable, because some things never change, and therefore the hiring cycle around those events repeats year after year.
Of course, the recruiting cycle can vary based on industry, but particularly for corporate jobs, an expected cadence can be identified.
Cyclical recruiting events
Here are some events which happen yearly and lead to the recruiting cycle being cyclical, and therefore predictable in some areas:
New year hiring boost – Many companies will hire in the new year as budgets for the fiscal year have been replenished and finalized, as well as yearly goals have been identified. Additionally, there may be a need to replace employees who leave the company in the new year, as they had been waiting out a move to receive end-of-year bonuses.
Third quarter surge – The beginning of Q3 can also bring on a recruiting cycle hiring surge as progress on yearly benchmarks are being evaluated, and changes or team additions are needed to meet goals by the end of the year.
End of the school year for recent grads – Many companies will hold hiring entry-level positions for after college graduations (May/June) so that they can onboard newly graduated associates. This recruiting cycle flux means open positions for graduates, and other available positions as employees are promoted out of entry- or mid-level positions or leave during this transition period.
Summer slump – As summer gets in full swing, hiring managers and recruiters tend to be on vacation because kids are out of school. This can cause a slow or uneven hiring period.
Fall frenzy – Fall can bring on a period of hiring in the recruiting cycle after the slow summer season and as the holidays loom. Recruiters know that the slow holiday season is coming up, so positions need to be filled before that time.
Holiday hiatus – Leading up to the holiday season people tend to check out mentally. Many hiring managers and recruiters take vacations during kids’ winter break, everyone is focused on company holiday parties where folks are fixated on building relationships with internal colleagues. Additionally, employees do not want to leave at this time and want secure employment during the holiday season. Sometimes, employees are waiting for holiday bonuses before leaving or profit sharing come the new year.
Pro tip: This does not mean you should stop your search during the holiday season. Check out my tips for what to do for your job hunt during the holidays. This can apply to any slow hiring period in the recruiting cycle.
Cyclical recruiting happens every year
Since these events happen every year it can be easy to predict the recruiting cycle. This cyclical recruiting is most common in corporate roles but can also be found in other industries. It is important to be aware of the cyclical nature of the recruiting cycle so that you can plan your job search and do a hard press for new work during high hiring periods.
Connect with me to learn how I can help you make the most of high-volume recruiting periods as well as stand out during slower hiring seasons.