Looking for a new job Today is your lucky day
Recent data from recruiting solutions software provider SmartRecruiters shows that the best day to apply for a job is Tuesday. Most job offers are made to candidates on Tuesday, as well. The data refutes conventional wisdom, which holds that weekends are most active for job-seekers, says CEO and founder of SmartRecruiters, Jerome Ternynck.
"For years recruiters have been posting jobs on Fridays and toward the end of the week, hoping to catch job seekers on the weekend, when we thought they'd be more actively searching for new roles," Ternynck says. "What we found is exactly the opposite, and that means the traditional way of doing things is ineffective."
Any given Tuesday
SmartRecruiters looked at a randomized cross section of more than 270,000 jobs in America and Canada posted in the SmartRecruiters system since 2013. It found that not only is Tuesday the most popular day for companies to post jobs, it's also the day when the highest number of people apply for jobs and the most popular day to get hired.
"The most interesting data is around Tuesdays for hiring teams and job seekers. As candidate, this means you should take the weekend to get your ducks in a row, update your resume, get your references lined up and watch the job boards for new postings during the beginning of the week, specifically on Tuesdays. Then you'll be ready to apply as soon as a new posting goes live," Ternynck says.
What it means for recruiters
For recruiters and hiring managers, the data suggests they should focus the end of the week on refining job descriptions, scouring social media and the previous week's applications to see if there are any good fits.
If you've got a new job opening, be prepared to post that at the beginning of the week when most candidates will be searching for application opportunities, Ternynck says.
Another interesting finding involves the best time of day to apply for a new position, says Ternynck. According to the data, 11 a.m. is the most popular time for companies to post new job listings during the week, while the majority of candidates apply for jobs around 2 p.m. Applicants looking to get in ahead of the curve may want to look for new postings in the late morning and then take some time on their lunch break to apply, according to the SmartRecruiters report.
Strike while opportunity knocks
The data also shows that nearly 60 percent of applicants apply within the first week of the job being posted.
Candidates that are actively searching for job opportunities and applying for jobs when they first open will have a greater chance of getting noticed and getting in on the first wave of interviews. The longer a job posting has been open, the more competition applicants will face. This can be true for not only the day candidates apply, but even the time of day.
"Job seekers should be looking at jobs that are fresh, so they gain an edge over their competitors. Don't think, 'Well, that looks interesting -- I'll apply next week,' because you'll put yourself out of the running and someone who instantly jumps on the opportunity to apply will get the job instead," says Ternynck.
And recruiters should be sure to communicate promptly with those who apply at the beginning of a job posting cycle. If candidates are applying quickly, they're likely to be truly interested and motivated to get the job. Don't lose top talent by letting too much time pass before you connect with new applicants, according to SmartRecruiters' data.
Whether you're a recruiter looking for quality candidates or a job seeker searching for the perfect fit, keeping these stats in mind will help you make the most out of your search and lower the possibility of missing out on great opportunities.