New job hunting sign
Job hunting, that is. Image: mj007/Shutterstock

It’s hunting season: When is the best time to apply for a new job?

16 Jan 2017

Are you planning to look for a new job this year? This guide to the best (and worst) times to apply might make all the difference.

January can be a tough time for people, particularly those who are less than happy in their jobs. As such, it has become a period during which a lot of employees turn jobseeker.

Today (16 January) is Blue Monday, the day that has been labelled the most depressing day of the year. Ostensibly the hardest Monday in the year for you to drag yourself into work, it stands to reason that it’s also the day you’re dreaming most of escape.

Escape can take a number of forms, from booking a holiday to spending the day on Instagram pretending you’re somewhere else. If it’s your job that’s causing you to feel blue, though, escape can mean hunting for something new.

But, with potentially more people than usual seeking out new avenues of employment, is it worthwhile joining the crowds vying for those open positions?

According to the team at Purple CV, yes, it is.

Purple CV did some research into the best times of year to apply for new jobs. According to the professional CV-writing company, the first and last quarters of the year rate highly, while the summer months are best avoided.

Other notable dates to steer clear of include National Sickie Day – which falls during the first week of February – and the months of July and August.

So, if you’re considering making a move this year, check out the best (and worst) times to send out your CV. And happy job hunting!

PurpleCV infographic

Infographic: Purple CV

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Kirsty Tobin
By Kirsty Tobin

Kirsty Tobin served as careers editor of Silicon Republic from 2015 up to August 2017. When she was younger, she had a dream where she started and won a fight with a T-Rex, so she’s pretty sure she kicked butt at this, too. Passions include eating all the cake, watching more TV than is healthy and sassy comebacks.

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