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When is the best time to look for a Temporary role?

Kate Allen, Executive Chair and Marketing Director, Allen Associates

At Allen Associates, we like to offer the best and most sound advice for Clients and Candidates on all aspects of the recruitment process. Our experience over the last 20 years has given us valuable insights into everything from the best day of the week to post your CV (you’ll have to read the blog for the answer to that one) to how to choose between two job offers.

The same goes for Temporary workers, who we have been placing with Clients since our foundation 20 years ago.

A question we get asked frequently, is when is the best time to look for a Temporary role?

The short answer (we’re cheating here), is ‘always’. If you are the early bird that catches the worm, you should always be on the lookout for roles that could move you forward in your career. However, there are certain times of the year to be aware of when you’re looking for your next placement. It’s worth bearing in mind that even if you have slowed down your search (during the summer months, perhaps), Employers won’t. In fact, the need they have to secure the top talent in those situations is greater, meaning they could well be easier to build that key relationship with. It just goes to show, that you have to be savvy, to be seen.

January

You might be thinking that this one is obvious, being the first month of a new year. However, this isn’t just a key time because it’s a clean slate, with Candidates leaving posts at the end of December in order to explore fresh opportunities. It can also be because of the good old British weather.

Thousands of people choose the winter months to book their holiday, and so this is good news for you, because if businesses haven’t hired before the end of the previous year, they will be under pressure.

A common misconception – and one we should clear up here – is that the recruitment process will be doubly easy because of this pressure. It won’t be. Employers hire the best person for them, not just anyone. What will be up to you is how you capitalise on things like your responsibilities within the role, or even salary.

Back to school time (September)

It may be the time schools and universities resume normal service, but this means businesses are placing a renewed focus on achieving their goals by the end of the calendar year, and they will need you. The downside of this is increased competition of course, but that’s the nature of the market. You will be prepared for this!

Make sure you have an up to date CV and that you are communicating regularly with your recruitment agency, informing them of what you’re looking for. If they’re listening to you, they’ll know the role you’d be perfect for as soon as it comes up. Often, we know from listening to our Clients that we have the person that would be the best fit for them.

If you’re looking for roles in Marketing, PA/Admin, HR or Finance, the peak times above will be key for you, being the more traditional industries. However, in your role as a Temporary worker, you will have an extensive network created from positive relationships with a variety of Employers. Use them. You never know when your next opportunity will present itself, but one thing you will be able to count on is the fact that having nurtured your relationships you will be the first one Employers and agencies will think of to meet their needs.

Over the last 20 years, we have grown as a business to become one of the leading independent Recruitment agencies in Oxfordshire, and in 2018 have opened our first London office, to service Clients in the capital.

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