Thinking about taking a break or hitting the pause button on your job search through the end of the year? Many will consider it, however they should keep going. Jobseekers have had a rough 2021 Ready for 4 compelling reasons you should continue your job search at the end of 2021?
- The job market is changing with more openings becoming available, ready to be filled.
- Less competition increases your chance to win.
- Finding a job is still your job and you’re not getting paid vacation.
- Winners keep pushing until the race is over.
The job market is changing
2020 and most of 2021 were brutal for jobseekers. Employers were laying people off and making due with smaller workforces. Finding a job was difficult to say the least and employers had the upper hand in the hiring process. The time it took jobseekers to find a job pre-COVID averaged about seven months depending on type of job and location. During the past 20 months or so the average time extended to roughly 12 months. That’s right, a full year from the time a job search started to landing the new position.
Experienced jobseekers became desperate and willing to take less money, lower benefits and even lower titles to secure a position during the pandemic. Many considered themselves lucky to be employed, however times are changing and the market has softened significantly for those looking to find a job. The unemployment rate is falling according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics it is 4.2% and falling. Those numbers are the best they have been since before COVID-19 hit back in 2019 and still trending down.
Less competition
Other jobseekers, not all but some, will take a break. With lower unemployment and some jobseekers taking time off for the end of the year, those who remain active will have less competition. Consider an employer who wants to fill a job before the end of the year, with less resumes in their hand to consider. I’m not a jobseeker but if I were, I’d rather have less competition than more.
If you are looking for a stretch job or even a first position, having less candidate competition can be a huge feather in your cap and significantly increase your chance of landing the job.
Finding a job is still your job
For those who don’t have a job to go to, their current job is to find or create one. They are not getting a paid vacation here at the end of the year, so why pause? Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm should be spent doing things to help them secure a job. For those who are not sure what to do we suggest they read our article on block schedule to learn. Once a jobseeker changes their mindset to that of a worker, success will come easier. The bottom-line here is that finding a job is the job. Taking a break for the day or the weekend is expected. A jobseeker likely shouldn’t take a two week vacation from their job search.
Winners keep pushing
Finally, some who have endured a torture like race trying to land a job, have my sympathy. It shouldn’t take good candidates two years to land a job. Sadly, there are those out there who have been looking in earnest that long without a lucky break. The goal is still ahead of them however and no matter how long the road has been, stopping is still not advised.
Winners do not quit. Athletes take breaks and rest as needed. Jobseekers might want to slow down on applications. Fine. If someone feels they should pause on applying, there are other things they can do to continue moving in a positive direction. As I discuss in other articles here on ProjectHelpYouGrow jobseekers should work on building their network, improving their skills, researching the market they work in and more as part of their job search. So if someone was worn out or inclined to slow down applying for jobs, there are other activities they can step up to still be productive like a champion. Jobseekers should not allow excuses from preventing their success. Instead they should keep pushing, making any course corrections they need to win.