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Is Spring the Best Time to Kickstart Your Job Search? Exploring the Pros and Cons.

Posted by catalystcareergroupon March 29, 2023March 29, 2023in Hiring Trends, Job Seeker

If you have had any experience searching for a job, you know that it can be a long and time-consuming process. As many begin looking for new positions, it can be difficult to know where to start and how to increase your chances of success. As the first quarter of the year comes to a close and the excitement of the new year calms, job seekers are beginning to wonder: is now the right time to begin my job search?

While it is true that many companies begin the year with fresh budgets and the need for new hires, the spring is still blooming with possibility! Understanding recruitment cycles and what exactly companies are looking for during the spring quarter may give you a better chance of being seen and securing that interview.

Let’s explore if spring is the best time to kickstart your job search!

Job shortage gives spring job searchers an advantage

Though the January/February hiring surge has passed, many companies are still searching for candidates. Jobs should remain available through the end of spring, even amidst an uncertain economic client.

Right now, there is a massive labor shortage in the U.S. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, there are currently 10 million open jobs and only 5.7 million unemployed workers. Job seekers can leverage this gap by maintaining their engagement with open job postings throughout the year.

Summer schedules may impact timing

With summer comes vacations, shorter work hours, and other out-of-office periods for many hiring managers. Because of these schedule discrepancies, interview processes could extend longer than usual or face a few start-stop disruptions.

Alternatively, if you begin your job search in the spring you may notice the interview process will be accelerated. Rather than prolonging the hiring process into summer, some companies will want to quicken their pace in order to place candidates before their vacations begin. This could work to your advantage and help to complete your spring job search faster. Not all companies follow this pace, so you’ll need to adjust your expectations from application to application and remember to be flexible.

Be prepared for competition in your spring job search

Because of the advantageous job market, many people are beginning their job search this spring. With so many candidates competition is high, so you have to do your best to stand out. Spending a bit of time every day working on your resume and building your interviewing skills could be what scores you your dream job.

Catalyst Career Group is committed to matching quality candidates with great companies all over the nation. We make it easy for job seekers with our friendly welcome orientation, informative event guides, and seminars specifically designed to help you advance your career at in-person and virtual job fairs.

And Private Recruiting Events allow you to meet with employers at their office, conference room, or virtually (over phone or video interview). While multi-company job fairs work well to meet many candidates for a broad range of positions, we’ll bring you directly to the door of the person who is hiring today.

CANDIDATE SEARCH AND PLACEMENT

Your company may be at risk of lost productivity if the right people aren’t found now. We’ll find the right hire for your business with candidate search and placement.
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VIRTUAL JOB FAIRS (Diversity)

Consider joining the upcoming area Job Fair. These are multi-profession, multi-industry VIRTUAL EVENTS where recruiters can safely connect live with area talent and maximize their recruiting efforts from the comfort of their own office.
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+ View the Chicago Virtual Diversity Job Fairs here.

PRIVATE RECRUITING EVENTS

Your Private Recruiting Events are an efficient way to recruit. Qualitfied candidates are sourced, screened, and presented for you to interview.
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SINGLE-COMPANY VIRTUAL HIRING EVENT

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VIEW MORE: Try “Different” Experiences To Get Better Candidates …

How To Make The Most Of A Spring Job Search

Posted by catalystcareergroupon February 27, 2023February 27, 2023in Hiring Trends, Job Seeker

At the start of a new year, many people are beginning their job search, with new goals for their career in mind. Many employers anticipate this and present job seekers with new positions and job openings. But if job seekers are not prepared to navigate this saturated market and stay consistent in searching throughout the beginning of spring, it can still be quite difficult to hear back from hiring managers. Keep reading to learn a few ways that you can make your spring job search more productive!

A spring job search can last 5 months on average

It’s easy to get impatient when searching for a new job. Between interviews and follow-up calls, a position in your dream company can feel far away. That is why it’s important to remember that from application to hire, a job search takes 5 months on average. Shifting your focus to being as prepared as possible from the very start is the best thing any job seeker can do.

Target your most desired companies for your spring job search

Just like everyone else, employees at top-earning companies are likely searching for jobs themselves. If there are specific companies you have in mind, beginning your job search in the start spring could be your best bet. Along with their existing employees moving into new jobs, business owners are likely setting new goals of their own, often resulting in more jobs.

If you need help creating a list of targets, many organizations create “Best Place to Work” lists. Start with your local media outlets for desirable companies in your area. You should be able to find these via a search for “best places to work in {your city}.” Other outlets, like LinkedIn, Fortune magazine, job listing website Glassdoor, Forbes, and other media companies release their top lists each year, as well.

Network intentionally to make the most of your spring job search

As you spend time networking, be mindful that it can be beneficial to connect with people who are not directly related to the company you are seeking out. When you begin securing contacts and interviews, make a plan to follow up with your contacts. It is important to maintain relationships with people, even if no job comes from the connection. Investing in your professional relationships keeps the door open for future connections and opportunities.

Make your job search more fruitful by following these tips and staying up to date with other Catalyst Career Group hiring resources!

Catalyst Career Group is committed to matching quality candidates with great companies all over the nation. We make it easy for job seekers with our friendly welcome orientation, informative event guides, and seminars specifically designed to help you advance your career at in-person and virtual job fairs.

And Private Recruiting Events allow you to meet with employers at their office, conference room, or virtually (over phone or video interview). While multi-company job fairs work well to meet many candidates for a broad range of positions, we’ll bring you directly to the door of the person who is hiring today.

How Will The FTC Noncompete Clause Effect Your Hiring?

Posted by catalystcareergroupon January 25, 2023in Employee Benefits, Hiring Trends, Job Descriptions, Virtual Hiring

After voting 3-1 last month, the Federal Trade Commission has proposed a rule to ban noncompete clauses in the U.S. The FTC has stated that they believe noncompete clauses harm innovation in business and suppress wages, ultimately violating the FTC’s fair trade laws.

A ban on noncompete clauses could help the economy

1 in 5 workers are affected by noncompete clauses. By limiting workers ability to change jobs and achieve upward mobility we see a lack of healthy competition, something that drives our economy.

Moving to ban noncompete clauses may increase wages

Economists also believe noncompete clauses are to blame for stagnant wages in recent years. The FTC estimates that by implementing this new rule, wages will increase by about $300 million yearly. By banning noncompete clauses in Oregon, a study in 2021 found that wages for low-wage workers rose by 2% to 3%.

Noncompete clauses are very important for businesses that depend on trade secrets and their highly educated employees. Though the clauses make sense for high-level employees, many are suggesting regulation on their use among low-wage employees instead of eliminating them all together.

Many assume non-competes to be non-negotiable

Some may argue that employees have the right to negotiate noncompetes in their contract or simply decline job offers that attempt to implement noncompete clauses, but many job seekers are not aware of these clauses until after being hired.

In 2015 The Journal of Law and Economics found that only 10% of employees negotiated over noncompete clauses in their contracts, assuming they had no say in the matter.

FTC noncompete bans would affect current and future noncompete clauses

The FTC’s new proposal would not only make it illegal for employers to implement noncompete clauses, but it would also require employers to eliminate any current clauses and inform all employees of the change.

Though we would not see this potential ban on noncompetes until late 2023, many employers will likely begin making changes to other confidentiality provisions in anticipation of this change.

Catalyst Career Group is committed to matching quality candidates with great companies all over the nation. We make it easy for job seekers with our friendly welcome orientation, informative event guides, and seminars specifically designed to help you advance your career at in-person and virtual job fairs.

And Private Recruiting Events allow you to meet with employers at their office, conference room, or virtually (over phone or video interview). While multi-company job fairs work well to meet many candidates for a broad range of positions, we’ll bring you directly to the door of the person who is hiring today.

Learn more about how Catalyst Career Group helps employers hire the right people for your position! >> https://catalystcareergroup.com/employers/

It’s 2023. When Is The Best Timing To Look For A Job?

Posted by catalystcareergroupon December 30, 2022in Hiring Trends, Job Seeker

Welcome to 2023! As the year begins, we continue to deal with the impact of inflation on the economy (and the job market). Job seekers may find it helpful to know when the best times to look for jobs is as the new year begins. As many organizations start a new fiscal year in January, you may find more openings are available in the comings months.

Let’s take a look at the best timing as 2023 approaches for job seekers as well as some insider job search tips.

Always be open to looking for a job

For the best chances at securing a job offer, it is always best to consistently seek out and apply for jobs that fit your preferences, location, background, and skills. Knowing the best times to look for a job may help you expect a boost in openings and aid in your job search.

The best time of year to find a job

Did you know that companies tend to hire most in January and February? This is mainly because of new hiring budgets that go into effect at the beginning of a new year. This is also the time of year that many corporate employees, including hiring managers, return from their holiday vacations. As work slows down during the winter months, more space is created for time-consuming projects like writing and posting job openings.

A seasonal guide to job searching

Every month has unique advantages and disadvantages for hiring. And here is what you can expect during the next quarter:

Winter

Historically, December is the slowest month for hiring. People tend to use the bulk of their vacation time during this month. This is because many travel out of state and make plans for the holidays. The office environment feels more relaxed and it is common for departments to notice employees working at a slower pace as they become involved in holiday activities.

Although January and February are known as the top months to get hired, you may experience slower than usual responses the first two weeks of January as employees return from vacations. However, if you’re looking to get hired, these are still the best months to go after job openings. The new year pushes hiring managers to accomplish the tasks they’ve been putting off due to updated budgets that allow managers to make important decisions, like hiring additional staff members.

These winter months are some of the best times to search for a job especially because workers are back in the office and working at their usual pace. Job listings posted in January produce a great number of candidates by February, which motivates employers to start scheduling interviews, and ultimately, hire new people.

Spring

The months of March, April and May are the next best time for getting hired. Management positions feel pressure to train new hires before the summer before vacations kick off as well.

Pro Tip: One thing to keep in mind when applying for jobs during spring is that the competition may increase, especially if a listing has been up since January. That’s why it’s important to update your resume and highlight any valuable experiences you’ve had that show you’re the best fit for the position.

How to Increase Your Ties When You Have Small Networks

If you have limited connections, networking with new contacts and decision-makers will increase your chances of leveraging new opportunities. Job fairs and private recruiting events give a candidate a leg-up, as they provide easier access to hiring managers, in-person and in one place. This is true whether you’re looking for a new job or considering a career change.

Pro-Tip: job fairs or private recruiting events can act as a shortcut to meeting the decision maker right away.

Catalyst Career Group is committed to matching quality candidates with great companies all over the nation. We make it easy for jobseekers with our friendly welcome orientation, informative event guides, and seminars specifically designed to help you advance your career at in-person and virtual job fairs.

And Private Recruiting Events allow you to meet with employers at their office, conference room, or virtually (over phone or video interview). While multi-company job fairs work well to meet many candidates for a broad range of positions, we’ll bring you directly to the door of the person who is hiring today.

Job Swappers Finding it Harder to Make a Change

Posted by catalystcareergroupon November 18, 2022January 17, 2023in Hiring Trends, Job Seeker

U.S. workers who are considering a career shift are facing a challenging market these days. In a recent Harris Poll, more than 70% of job seekers say are finding it more difficult to land a new job than they had anticipated. This is a shift from this time last year, when employees had more leverage.

According to the same poll, more than a third of employed Americans are looking to change roles right now. But about 72% of job seekers say that companies don’t show signs of the same hiring enthusiasm as last year’s Great Resignation hiring surge. Respondents say companies are ignoring applications and failing to scheduling interviews, which makes sense considering the news of belt tightening across industries.

While the employment rate is still strong, recent fluctuations in the market are changing the jobs landscape. While some businesses reported strong hiring and wage increases, tech companies, in particular, have gone through massive, market-shaking layoffs. The job cuts have topped headlines as even giants like Facebook parent Meta (saw of nearly 11,000 layoffs), Twitter (up to 4,000 layoffs), Amazon (about 10,000 job cuts, with more on the way) – titans who have grown exponentially in the past few decades – are not immune to the world’s economic uncertainties.

Switches No Longer Promise Bigger Paychecks

One of the biggest reasons people look for new jobs is that it’s often the best way to gain a promotion or increase their take-home pay. That’s not as true now as it was in the recent past.

This is backed up by other data that shows job switches are not as lucrative as they once were, even compared to this past summer. In July, the average job switch gained a worker an 8.5% raise. By October, that average had dropped to a 6.4% increase.

Competitive Job Market Resembles Hot Housing Market

Similar to the housing search during the pandemic, where buyers were putting in multiple home offers to increase their chances, today’s job search has been long and daunting for many. More than 60% of seekers have searched for a new job for over six months, and nearly 50% have applied to more than 50 positions!

Why So Hard? Stayers and Seekers Cancel Each Other Out

Other data shows that more people are remaining in their current job (Job Stayers) than in the past. At the same time, more people want to switch than previous months (Job Seekers). Without the open positions created by Job Stayers, Job Seekers are finding less demand for their services. It makes for a business-friendly market.

How Job Seekers Can Boost Their Chances in a Tough Market

From this survey, two-thirds of those looking for a new job say they regret not starting their job search sooner. A similar percentage think it would have been easier to change roles a year or two ago.

But there is hope. By attending job fairs, job seekers can increase their chances of catching the eye of a hiring manager. And because these job fairs are only hosted by actively seeking employers, you know that they are actually interested in making a hiring decision quickly.

Contact Catalyst Career Group today to learn more about how you can get a leg-up in this competitive job market.