January & February Are The Best Times Of Year To Find A New Job — Here’s How To Get Hired

As cliché as it may sound, the start of a new year is an opportunity for a fresh start–and a chance to tackle whatever goals you’ve got for the year ahead. While some of us are focused on self-improvement–ditching the “booked-and-busy” hustle-grind mindset for more intentional investment of your time–or centering self-care by adding exercise and more hydration to your day-to-day, some of us are zeroing in on our career trajectories and going for those new opportunities! So if that’s you, you’re in luck! Because the top of the year–i.e., January and February–is the best time of year to apply for jobs.

It’s your time

That’s because now is when hiring teams are getting back to their pre-end-of-year pace, which makes the beginning of the year an optimal time for job seekers. And in part because the pandemic has completely changed the landscape of the working world, lots of applicants have their choice of positions that align with their skill sets and lifestyle. Even though there are 6.3 million potential workers who are unemployed, there are still 10.6 million jobs open. 

Real Talk

But you already know: Black and Latinx professionals, especially women, have to navigate racial, ethnic, and gender disparities on top of the “usual” career challenges, which means they also have to approach the job market differently than their non-Latinx, White counterparts. The Great Resignation, “the ongoing trend of employees voluntarily leaving their jobs,” has Latinas leaving the workforce at higher rates than any other demographic. According to a report released by UCLA’s Latino Policy & Politics Initiative, between March 2020 and March 2021, the number of Latinas in the workforce dropped by 2.74%, meaning 336,000 fewer Latinas were in the labor force. However, reports also show how they’re redefining their professional careers. 

We talked to a senior analytics manager at a digital marketing and public relations agency who resigned from two positions over the course of 2021. Refusing to tolerate an unorganized work structure, lack of appreciation, and extreme work hours, the Afro-Honduran professional left her first analytics position. “I am not afraid to resign and leave working environments that do not appreciate me,” she said. “At the start of 2021, I realized that I was paid under the average salary in NYC and was doing more work outside of my regular job functions.” 

After attempting to negotiate a salary increase, but not receiving the industry standard, she resigned. Though she landed a new role within a month, challenges like limited managerial bandwidth, inadequate training for new hires and an overall unhealthy work environment, led her to try to work with management to implement changes. That didn’t pan out, either. So she started a new role in January (officially accepting the offer at the end of December), which came with an offer that was $30,000 more than her previous role–and a $45,000 salary increase within a year.

This can be you, too.

We’re sharing that story because we want you to know: this can be you, too! If you want to take advantage of the bump in job openings during peak hiring season, use these tips to fast-track your application process and make sure that you negotiate a worthwhile offer: 

Focus your research on the top companies with flexible work arrangements

The pandemic has forced companies to revisit how they structure their workplaces, swapping in-office setups for more flexible ones (ahem, remote work, anyone?). According to a Future Forum study, 93% of workers now want a flexible schedule, with a choice in when and how they work, while 76% want flexibility in where they work. For Black and Latinx employees, 80% and 78%, respectively, want a flexible working experience (citing greater belonging as the primary reason). 

Now’s the perfect time to check out the “top companies hiring” lists for the year. And don’t forget to lean into your network (truly, the best, and fastest, way to find a job) to find out about even more organizations to target, as well as openings you otherwise wouldn’t have found on the internet and job boards.

Take a holistic approach to advancing your career 

When you think about your job search, you’ll probably make a list of dream companies you want to work for, tweak your resume and cover letter one million times, and go back and forth about what your salary requirements are. Those are important steps. But before you get into the weeds, it’s just as important to focus on your mindset.

Visualize yourself in your dream role. Ask yourself: How do you want to feel in your new position? What types of skills are you supporting your new team with? What opportunities for personal and professional growth will the next role bring?

Jot down your responses and revisit them weekly to anchor you throughout your career search journey.

Leverage your social media presence 

Social media can be a great resource for any job seeker. But before you start using your Twitter account to connect with everyone and their mother in your target industry, or use LinkedIn profile to easy-apply for a dozen jobs, comb through your accounts to make sure there’s nothing compromising on there. Once you're good to go on that, let your network know that you’re looking for that new gig.

You can try joining industry-, profession-, or identity-specific LinkedIn groups, or, in the case of Twitter, Communities. Unless you’re doing a more discreet job search, you can even post on all the platforms to let folks know that you’re looking for your next role. If you are doing a more discreet search, then message people individually to let them know. Either way, prepare yourself to follow-up at least once or twice with folks if they don’t write back for that coffee chat right away! We’ve all got an attention span of 12 seconds these days, so a friendly reminder or nudge will not hurt!

Tailor your cover letter and resume

Your cover letter and resume serve as an opportunity to showcase why you’re the best person for the job. Don’t get caught up in the one-size-fits-all model–take the time to customize your documents, tailoring them for the exact role at the company you’re applying to work at. For helpful cover letter tips, click here. Resume pointers can also be found in our COVID-19 Career Guide for Women of Color Job Seekers. 

Stay motivated

This may be the most important tip of all. Always remember: YOU GOT THIS!! Applying for jobs is…well, a process. It’s a mind game, and it’s a numbers game. There will be ups and downs. Good days and bad.

And it’s natural to feel exhausted after having a series of networking conversations or hitting send a batch of applications. But stay the course, because the right opportunity awaits you! 

For more strategies and tips to help you land your next position, check out our YouTube video series here.