Job hunt timing
April 8, 2018 9:52 PM Subscribe
Job search noob question: if I know exactly when my current job will end, when do I start looking for a new job? If I start applying way early, will people who would otherwise like me get annoyed for wasting their time, or would they set my CV aside in case they have a similar position later?
My current job has a concrete end date: December 31, 2018. (There is a possibility my employer will want to extend my contract, but I've tentatively decided to leave after the year is up as I don't see much opportunity for advancement here.) I was browsing job listings for purely informational purposes when I suddenly realized I've never been in this situation before - I'd always been "available to start now I said NOW, PLEASE HIRE ME" or about to graduate from university (which, folks hiring new grads know pretty much when they will be available regardless of when the actual interview takes place). None of the listings I've looked at so far have had a desired start date specified. When should I start applying for jobs/reaching out to people in my network?
Specific context: I'll be looking for junior-ish tech R&D positions, in Canada, maaybe looking to relocate Canada -> US depending on the, well uh, situation.
My current job has a concrete end date: December 31, 2018. (There is a possibility my employer will want to extend my contract, but I've tentatively decided to leave after the year is up as I don't see much opportunity for advancement here.) I was browsing job listings for purely informational purposes when I suddenly realized I've never been in this situation before - I'd always been "available to start now I said NOW, PLEASE HIRE ME" or about to graduate from university (which, folks hiring new grads know pretty much when they will be available regardless of when the actual interview takes place). None of the listings I've looked at so far have had a desired start date specified. When should I start applying for jobs/reaching out to people in my network?
Specific context: I'll be looking for junior-ish tech R&D positions, in Canada, maaybe looking to relocate Canada -> US depending on the, well uh, situation.
Response by poster: Sort of - the details aren't really relevant, but I'm committed to staying on until at least near the end of my contract to wrap up my projects and maintain good relations with my employer and coworkers. (Also I actually quite like my current job and it's a good fit for where I want to be right now, it's just not a sustainable long term gig.)
posted by btfreek at 12:00 AM on April 9, 2018
posted by btfreek at 12:00 AM on April 9, 2018
Best answer: This is kinda industry and even job-specific. Companies will be operating on different timelines depending on their circumstances. There should be a "when would you be abailable to start?" question somewhere in the interview process, to help figure out whether the timing would work. If they don't ask, you can always ask, "When would you be looking for me to start?" and get that ball rolling.
No blame attaches if your timing and your prospective new employer's timing don't match up. Just one of those things. Start applying for jobs whenever you want, just make sure the companies you interview with are clear on what your timeline looks like.
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 4:05 AM on April 9, 2018 [3 favorites]
No blame attaches if your timing and your prospective new employer's timing don't match up. Just one of those things. Start applying for jobs whenever you want, just make sure the companies you interview with are clear on what your timeline looks like.
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 4:05 AM on April 9, 2018 [3 favorites]
Best answer: I'd start looking three months out, unless you are applying to academic or other institutions when the cycle is notoriously long.
posted by DarlingBri at 4:53 AM on April 9, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by DarlingBri at 4:53 AM on April 9, 2018 [2 favorites]
You could try sending a few applications now, to see how long it takes employers to respond and what their timelines are, then use that information to determine when to start applying as your eligibility date gets closer.
posted by kevinbelt at 8:40 AM on April 9, 2018
posted by kevinbelt at 8:40 AM on April 9, 2018
Best answer: So - I am going to push back a little on the premise here that you owe anything to your current employer if an amazing gig comes up in the interim.
One of the things that organizations can do to retain their staff is to offer them financial stability and a career path. Your employer either can't or won't do that which means they're not serious about retaining you to the end of your contract. I've hired several contract workers and have never held it against someone for finding a more stable gig when I could not provide one.
I would be very choosy at this point but I would start searching ASAP as permanent, excellent jobs can sometimes be tough to come by. Looking for jobs with the luxury of saying no to a so-so offer is a great position to be in.To give you a sense - I've done prospective meetings with my network/potential employers early in a calendar year with timelines that "I'd like to find my next challenge by the end of the year." This allows for people to not just consider you for an existing vacancy but also potentially to re-vamp some part of their operations to accommodate you in a role they may not yet envision.
posted by notorious medium at 10:25 AM on April 9, 2018 [4 favorites]
One of the things that organizations can do to retain their staff is to offer them financial stability and a career path. Your employer either can't or won't do that which means they're not serious about retaining you to the end of your contract. I've hired several contract workers and have never held it against someone for finding a more stable gig when I could not provide one.
I would be very choosy at this point but I would start searching ASAP as permanent, excellent jobs can sometimes be tough to come by. Looking for jobs with the luxury of saying no to a so-so offer is a great position to be in.To give you a sense - I've done prospective meetings with my network/potential employers early in a calendar year with timelines that "I'd like to find my next challenge by the end of the year." This allows for people to not just consider you for an existing vacancy but also potentially to re-vamp some part of their operations to accommodate you in a role they may not yet envision.
posted by notorious medium at 10:25 AM on April 9, 2018 [4 favorites]
Best answer: You can start networking now, of course. I'd also potentially start looking at job sources now, not spending a ton of time but idly peruse them every once in a while. If a job comes up that is a 10/10 - a great organization, perfect fit, matches your skills and interests, compensation is great - apply for it, but only for the truly 10/10 jobs.
By the fall, you will have a better sense of what the job market is -- are there tons of employers or is it limited, etc -- and maybe start considering applying for 9/10 jobs. At a couple of months out, start applying for 8/10 jobs, then start going after the 7/10 or 5/10 or whatever -- at this point, you'll have a good sense of the supply.
You can also start saving/budgeting now so you have lower expenses and a larger cash reserve when this job runs out, so you can afford to be picker and don't have to apply to Tim Horton's or whatever other 0/10 jobs there are.
posted by Homeboy Trouble at 11:41 AM on April 9, 2018 [1 favorite]
By the fall, you will have a better sense of what the job market is -- are there tons of employers or is it limited, etc -- and maybe start considering applying for 9/10 jobs. At a couple of months out, start applying for 8/10 jobs, then start going after the 7/10 or 5/10 or whatever -- at this point, you'll have a good sense of the supply.
You can also start saving/budgeting now so you have lower expenses and a larger cash reserve when this job runs out, so you can afford to be picker and don't have to apply to Tim Horton's or whatever other 0/10 jobs there are.
posted by Homeboy Trouble at 11:41 AM on April 9, 2018 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Thanks all - this was a good reminder that I need to refresh my Linkedin anyway, and I will slowly ramp up my search efforts from there. Browsing job listings is much more bearable from the vantage point of full-time employment!
posted by btfreek at 6:50 PM on April 9, 2018
posted by btfreek at 6:50 PM on April 9, 2018
« Older Not my circus, temporarily my monkey | Interesting things to do with grapefruit curd? Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by kickingtheground at 11:11 PM on April 8, 2018