If you’re looking for work, you may have heard about the “September Surge” – the idea that hiring picks up significantly after Labor Day.
Is it real?
There is some truth to it – but don’t expect an avalanche of available jobs.
September has traditionally been a good time for job seekers to renew their efforts. Summer vacations are ending, hiring managers and recruiters are back at their desks, and projects and hiring decisions that may have slowed during July and August begin moving again. The holidays haven’t started yet (no matter what you might see in the stores.)
They’re also looking ahead. There’s only a few months remaining in the year, and organizations are looking at staffing needs, year-end goals and budgets for the coming year. Positions that were put on hold during the summer may now receive renewed attention.
Federal employment data shows that hiring activity can increase during the fall, although it doesn’t happen every year or in every industry. That’s why it’s better to think of the September Surge as a seasonal opportunity rather than a guarantee.
Getting Started
After the summer, you have a perfectly natural reason to contact former coworkers, supervisors, customers, vendors, professional acquaintances and others in your network.
Keep it simple, such as: “I hope you had a good summer. I wanted to reconnect and let you know that I’m exploring new opportunities…” can reopen a relationship that has been quiet for months – or even years.
And for experienced job seekers, those relationships can be especially valuable. Someone who knows your work, your reliability and what you can contribute may be able to introduce you to an employer long before you would ever discover the opportunity on a job board.
Take Advantage of September
1. Reconnect with your network. Reach out to people you haven’t spoken with recently and let them know what you’re looking for.
2. Refresh your LinkedIn profile. Make sure your headline, About section and recent experience reflect what you want to do next.
3. Update your résumé. Focus on recent accomplishments and the value you can bring to an employer rather than simply listing everything you’ve done.
4. Identify target employers. Don’t limit your search to organizations currently advertising openings. Follow companies and organizations where you’d genuinely like to work.
5. Revisit older applications. If you applied for an interesting position during the summer and haven’t heard anything, consider following up.
6. Respond quickly to new opportunities. A strong application submitted promptly is usually better than a “perfect” application submitted a week later.
7. Keep going. The September Surge doesn’t end on September 30. Hiring activity can continue throughout October and into November.
Now is Your Starting Point
The September Surge may not be quite as dramatic as its name suggests. There is no magic date when employers suddenly begin hiring. But September does provide something valuable: a reason to restart, reconnect and refocus.
If your job search slowed during the summer, don’t worry about the time that’s passed. Take another look at your résumé and LinkedIn profile. Make a list of people you could reconnect with. Identify employers you’d like to know more about. And begin having conversations.
For job seekers over 50, experience is your superpower – but equally important are the relationships you’ve built along the way. Now is a great time to put both to work.