Time to Buckle Down: Get a New Job Before the Year Ends

Hello and welcome to today’s episode of the Work and Worth podcast. My name is Cristin Downs, and I’m a possibilitarian who works as an executive and career pivot coach. In today’s episode, we’re going to discuss why now is the time to buckle down if you’re looking to get a new job before the end of the year.

This is August 2024, and while this isn’t the last opportunity to secure a job before the end of the year, it is the next best time. I want to encourage you, if you’ve been contemplating it, to get your ducks in a row now. Most people make a New Year’s resolution to change jobs by the end of the year, saying, Yes, this is my year. I am going to do it. Of course, it’s always difficult, and this job market is particularly challenging.

I worked with a client around this time last year. She had pivoted out of teaching and secured a job in an ed-tech company that wasn’t great. She transitioned to another type of education company, which turned out to be a toxic environment with a terrible boss. She started her job search around this time last year and reached out to me in October. We worked together, and she had a new job by December. I have also worked with others who found out they were getting laid off in October of last year. We secured new job contracts for them within a month, and they started two weeks later, even before their severance ran out.

I share these stories not to suggest that this is the norm. The average time to get a job in the United States is six months. Right now, we’re in August, so we have August, September, October, November, December, and January, which would be the six-month mark. If you really focus, you can get a new job before the end of the year.

The next big hiring bump is expected right after Labor Day. The pandemic has upended traditional job hiring cycles, but typically, hiring picks up after Labor Day. If you start and focus now, you can take advantage of that energy. We also see increased hiring in October and November before things usually slow down around Thanksgiving.

I had clients last year who did exceptionally well between Thanksgiving and New Year’s because many people were taking a break. It was easier for them to get noticed and receive attention due to fewer applicants.

So, what should you be thinking about? First and foremost, what is your why? Why do you want a new job? Is it because your current organization is not in good financial shape, and you want to leave before something worse happens? Is there no room for growth in your current position? Has a boss you adored left, and now you have a new boss you don’t like? These are common situations.

I’ve worked with people who no longer want to manage others because it’s exhausting. Others enjoy managing but no longer want to mentor new workforce entrants and prefer working with more experienced colleagues.

Identify what is pushing you to leave and get clear and focused on that. You could journal your thoughts, use a morning pages style brain dump, or talk it out. Be cautious about who you involve in this process, as some people may have personal biases that could influence your decision.

Once you have your why, the next step is to review your time in your current role. Ensure you have a copy of your contract and any legal documents you signed. Understand any rights you have signed away, such as non-compete clauses and what information you can share in your resume and interviews. This is especially important if your organization is not financially solvent. Gather work samples, positive comments, and performance reviews to have on hand in case of layoffs.

Next, prepare your materials: resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile. If you are pivoting to a new industry, you may need a more generalized LinkedIn profile and a specific resume highlighting transferable skills. Traditional job seekers may benefit from having multiple versions of their resume tailored to different roles.

Depending on your field, you might also need a portfolio or work samples. For example, grant writers need examples of their grants, content writers need content samples, and instructional designers need a portfolio of work samples. A Google Drive with clearly labeled folders can be just as effective as a fancy website.

Now that you have your why and your materials ready, decide how much time you can realistically devote to your job search. Set a goal that is doable but slightly challenging. Avoid setting hard deadlines without wiggle room, as this can lead to discouragement if you fall behind. Instead, aim for a consistent effort, such as spending at least 30 minutes a day on your job search.

Consider your current responsibilities, such as caregiving, commuting, or health issues, when setting your goals. If your organization is in bad financial shape, you may need to apply to more jobs urgently. If your situation is stable but you know it’s time to move on, you can take a more relaxed approach.

People often ask about additional tactics like networking and cold outreach. Currently, these methods are not as effective as they used to be. Networking and cold outreach are not yielding the same results due to the saturated job market. However, if you enjoy these activities, there’s no harm in trying them. Just know that they may not be as fruitful as before.

Between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, one client had great success with cold outreach, likely because many people were taking a break. But this approach did not work as well after New Year’s. If you dislike networking, don’t feel pressured to do it. Focus on what works best for you.

In summary, now is the time to buckle down for your end-of-year job search. Focus on your why, prepare your materials, set realistic goals, and consider your current responsibilities. If you need support, visit my website, workandworthcoach.com, and schedule a strategy session with me. It’s completely asynchronous, so you can do it on your own time. You can watch a short introduction to me and my services, ask your questions, and I’ll reply with a strategy tailored to your needs.

That’s it for me. Bye for now.