Are you prepared for the January Job Boom?

One of the most achievable New Year’s resolutions is to find a new job. As the new year begins, the UK job market sees a predictable surge as people across the nation commit to fresh starts. According to our statistics there was a 62% increase in applicants from December 2023 to January 2024. It’s the January Job Boom, and for businesses, this is the perfect time to advertise open positions.

But beware of the competition.

Many businesses are well aware of the January Job Boom and strategically pause hiring in December to launch fresh recruitment drives when candidate activity is at its peak. As a result, competition is fierce. In a cooling labour market where wage growth has recently slowed, more businesses are opting to hire cautiously, meaning the available candidate pool is even more sought after.

If your job adverts don’t stand out, or if your shortlisting, interviewing, and onboarding processes aren’t optimised, you could lose out on top talent to competitors.

How can you make the most of the Boom?

Make your advert stand out.

Effective job adverts are essential during the January Job Boom. Job seekers in 2025 are discerning, and some job postings still lack critical details like salary, location, benefits, and specific responsibilities. Worse, spelling and grammar errors can deter quality candidates immediately. In a competitive hiring month, these mistakes will stall your recruitment efforts before they begin.

Be transparent and strategic in your advert by providing all relevant information and optimising it with keywords for better search results. On some platforms, you can also add company branding through images or videos that showcase your culture—a huge advantage during this period of high competition.

Consider the motivation behind the Boom.

January applicants aren’t just after career advancement—they’re often looking for a bigger change. The new year draws candidates with experience and strong skills who may be more open to flexible or unique opportunities rather than simply salary bumps.

The best hires might not tick every box on your checklist but could bring adaptability and a desire to grow into the role. Use the “70% rule”—consider candidates who meet 70% of the qualifications, and invest in training the other 30%. This approach can yield long-term benefits and build a more diverse team without sacrificing momentum.

Prepare for a higher volume of applications.

The January Job Boom means more applicants, and while that’s great news, it also means more CVs to review. Particularly for small businesses, a well-structured shortlisting and interview process is essential. The higher-than-average number of applications means you’ll need to filter through some unsuitable candidates.

If you don’t have the resources to manage this influx, professional recruitment support could be a wise investment. By streamlining the process and allowing expert support in initial candidate engagement, you can focus on securing top candidates before they’re picked up by competitors.

Onboarding is crucial.

For new hires to become valuable team members, you need to start them off right. In January, when new recruits may be fielding multiple offers, an engaging onboarding process is essential. The goal is to help your new employee settle in, build connections, and feel valued from day one.

Failing to provide structured onboarding leaves new hires feeling disconnected, and in the current climate of high competition, they could be easily enticed away by other job offers.

Embrace the January Job Boom!

With these insights, January could be your most productive month for hiring, giving you access to candidates who are otherwise unavailable. The competitive nature of this season means you need to be on top of your game to attract and retain quality hires, but if you can stand out, you’ll be well-positioned to start 2025 with a stronger team.

Need a helping hand with your January recruitment? Flat Fee Recruiter is here to support you.

Our team provides expert, cost-effective recruitment services, from crafting job adverts to managing candidate engagement. Call us today at 0113 322 7243 for a no-obligation chat about how we can help you make the most of the January Job Boom.