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What's the September surge, and how does it affect your job search this season?
There’s the song by Green Day that says, “Wake me up when September ends,” but no job seeker should sleep through one of the best hiring months of the year.
It has felt like the last few years have held only bad news regarding the job market and workplace. There's unemployment, layoffs, the "will-they-or-won't-they" question of returning to the office, and a looming recession as the cherry on top!
So, the September Surge is a well-timed piece of potentially really good news for your career.
In this article, we're talking about the annual phenomenon that pops up between the end of summer and Halloween. We'll also share our top ten tips for securing a job during this rush!
Let's take control of this surge!
What is the September Surge?
September surge starts after Labor Day and lasts through the end of October. Why does one of the busiest hiring times occur this time of year? And how can a job seeker take advantage of this fruitful time?
HR TikToker Dan Space (@dan_from_HR) posted this TikTok urging job seekers to update their LinkedIn profiles to prepare for this potential hiring frenzy. In an interview with BuzzFeed, Dan shared that he first started seeing this fall hiring trend in 2009, after the economy crashed.
As the economy began to pick up, Dan explains, roles that had been approved throughout the year were being posted at the end of 2009.
Other factors that might be involved in a hiring surge include:
- End of summer, everyone returns to work and school
- Hiring for industries that have busy first quarters. This allows candidates to be hired, trained, and ready to handle an onslaught of work after the holidays
- Seasonal hiring for the holiday rush
- Companies entering their final quarter have their final budgets approved and ready
As I began writing this article, I realized I was hired a few times during a September surge!
Dos and Dont’s During the September Surge
Just because there are more jobs doesn’t mean you should go wild applying to every job out there. Getting hired is not a numbers game.
Putting effort and thought into a one job application will almost always yield a better result than enacting a mass application to every job you see.
Here are some dos and don’ts when it comes to getting hired during this fruitful employment time.
DO update your hiring materials, including your resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile (and ensure that potential employers know you are actively searching for new work!)
DON’T spend your work day at your current job looking through jobs. If you are currently employed and looking for your next employment opportunity, do it on your own time and on your own device if possible.
DO express interest in the companies and organizations that appeal to you, even if they don’t have your exact job description posted. Some companies even have a general application where you can explain your expertise and how you could help the organization grow.
DON’T apply to every job at your “dream company.” Instead of seeing you as a mega fan of the company, they are likelier to see you as flaky and unfocused. Apply to the roles that suit you best.
DO brush up on answering common interview questions, networking, and other job search hacks. We have a section of tips and tricks at the bottom of this article!
DON’T arrive at any interview without knowing what you want to ask for regarding salary. Also, always be ready to negotiate your pay.
DO get and remain active on social media platforms (ahem, LinkedIn!) where your future boss might be lurking. If your work is visual or written, share pieces of your portfolio or published work online.
DON’T keep your personal social media public if you tend to share more personal aspects of your life—or the crazy Halloween party you’re still hungover from!
Having a personal life outside of work is obviously great, but you might consider keeping it private. This can also protect you from some of the more unconscious bias that can happen during the hiring process.
What Are Other Peak Hiring Times?
If you don’t land a job during the September Surge, there is no need for despair. It’s a fact that you can get a job at almost any time of the year. However, the September surge tends to have the highest percentage of open jobs.
Other Peak Hiring Times
March, April + May
Think of hiring almost like the school year, as hiring seasons tend to follow the same basic schedule.
Hiring slows during the holidays and during the summer break. It’s not such a coincidence that hiring picks up at the beginning of a typical academic school year and once more towards the end of a school year.
- Best Day of the Week to Apply for a Job: Monday
- Best Day of the Week to Get A Job Offer: Tuesday (followed closely by Thursday)
- Best Day of the Week to Interview for a Job: Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
- Best Time of Day to Interview for a Job: Between 10 am and 11 am
Sources:
How to Prepare Yourself to Get Hired During September Surge
...or any time of year.
Here are our top ten pieces of advice to get you quickly up to speed and ready to be hired.
- Update your resume (Yes, you can use ChatGPT to help with your resume and your cover letter.)
- Create personalized cover letters, but you can start by creating an editable cover letter that shows your personality.
- Prepare for the most common interview questions.
- Prepare to create writing samples (and yes, your cover letter can definitely count as a writing sample!) by following our tips on becoming a better writer.
- Update your LinkedIn using all of the best tips and tricks (even some LinkedIn hacks you might not have heard about!)
- If you have a portfolio, ensure it's up-to-date and showcases your best work.
- Scour your network. You never know what friend of a friend knows someone who can connect you to a prime September Surge opportunity.
- Remember to keep your confidence and work on calming your nerves throughout the process.
- Make sure that your professional references are ready to talk about your career and how special you are!
- Finally, make sure to keep your eyes out for potential job scams!
