Are you prepared for the January Job Boom?

One of the easiest New Year resolutions to keep is to look for a new job. Every year, job boards report a huge spike in searches and applicants as many in the UK population take stock, join a gym, and start changing careers.

Last year, candidates searching for new opportunities during January increased by an enormous 74%. Roles in Hospitality, Sales, and Administration, in particular, were in high demand.

The result: the January Job Boom. This is the month to advertise if your business needs new staff.

But consider the competition.

Savvy employees know all about the January Job Boom, with many businesses choosing to pause their recruitment in December to take advantage of this month’s massive talent pool.

However, this means competition for candidates is higher than at any other time of year. If your advert doesn’t stand out, or your shortlisting, interviewing, and onboarding processes aren’t effective, you risk losing the best talent to rival businesses.

So, how can you ensure you get the best of the Boom?

Make sure you stand out.

Writing an effective job advert is a bit of an art. In any average search result, many job adverts miss out vital information like salary, location, benefits, or even the day-to-day responsibilities! Worse, bad grammar and spelling mistakes are common.

These errors are always bad news, but during the January Job Boom, they will terminate your recruitment efforts before they start.

Avoid this by including all key information about the role and format your adverts properly, incorporating relevant keywords for search optimisation. When possible, enhance your adverts with company branding. On some boards, you can even include videos and photography to showcase your company culture

Think about what motivates applicants.

More than at any other time of year, you’ll encounter people seeking not just career advancement but significant life changes. You might attract highly talented individuals who usually aren’t on the market and who may be willing to accept a lower salary for the chance to learn new skills.

Be prepared for applicants from varied backgrounds and be open-minded. Recruiters often use the 70% rule, which states that it’s often better to train an applicant in the remaining 30% of your requirements if they meet 70% of them, rather than spending more time and money searching for the ‘perfect candidate’.

Be ready for a lot of CV screening in January.

Inevitably, you’ll encounter a higher than average number of unsuitable applications. Particularly for small businesses, having a robust shortlisting and interview process is essential. Consider whether you have the time and resources to sift through hundreds of CVs and then engage promising applicants as other recruiters compete for their attention.

If not, consider professional recruitment support, which is available at a reasonable cost.

Your onboarding is as important as your advertising.

A common mistake among new businesses is failing to properly onboard new recruits. A structured process of introducing your new starter to the team and their responsibilities is crucial in January. If you fail to engage your new staff member, numerous other jobs and recruitment agents are ready to take them from you.

Embrace the January Job Boom!

January is an ideal month for hiring. You have the best chance of attracting talent unavailable at any other time of the year.

The high level of competition means you must be on top of your game to attract and retain top applicants. If you have the resources and follow this advice, you can start 2024 with a team enhanced by top-class new talent.

If this seems daunting, Flat Fee Recruiter can help! We offer complete recruitment support, from advert writing to interviewing, that’s both cost-effective and high quality.

For more information, call us today on 0113 322 7243 for a no-obligation discussion about how we can ensure your January recruitment efforts are successful.