Online CV expert iProfile.org predicts 7 January will be one of the busiest days of the year for sending out CVs and applying for jobs, as job-seekers all over the UK put the Christmas festivities behind them, and send their CVs out to recruiters.
More than 2.7 million people in the UK have an online CV through iProfile.org, giving the company a unique insight into when most job-hunting activity takes place.
Rick Bacon, CEO of iProfile.org comments: January is always a hectic time in the recruitment market, as many people reflect on their career over the Christmas period, even making finding a new job their New Year's resolution, and then start job-hunting in the first week back at work. In 2008, January 10th was when we saw the largest volumes of CVs updated and sent to recruiters. In 2009, we expect to see an even bigger upsurge around this time. In fact we're expecting record volumes of CVs due to the large number of people who have been made redundant in the last few months, but have delayed looking for a new job until after Christmas.
One employment lawyer has estimated that 60 percent of people who were made redundant in the latter part of last year have put off their job search until after Christmas. This compares to just 10 percent for the same time period in 2007.*
This upsurge, combined with statistics from iProfile.org's database that show Wednesday is the busiest day for people sending out their CV, means iProfile has identified January 7 as the busiest day for sending out CVs post Christmas for 2009.
There are a number of things savvy job-seekers can do to give themselves a competitive edge in this busy period, comments Rick Bacon, CEO of iProfile.org. For example, in the current marketplace, it's important to look at your skills as well as your achievements and experience, to see which of your skills you can transfer to an industry that might be experiencing or predicting job growth.
Bacon concludes: Getting your CV and achievements together shouldn't just be for those who are actively looking for jobs either. If you do get made redundant you're unlikely to get much warning - it's a good idea to be prepared and get all the information you need for a great CV. Quite often you won't be allowed back to collect the evidence of your achievements, such as sales figures, or how you managed an award winning campaign.
iProfile.org's top tips for tackling the jobs market:
Get a feel for what's out there by searching for jobs online. But don't just limit yourself to one job board - it's quicker and easier if you look for a portal that allows you to search across several from one central location
Think about looking beyond your current industry to those that are experiencing or predicting job growth and where there are shortages in skilled resources
Turn to your personal networks to see where you can use friends and acquaintances to recommend you for jobs as they become available
Be prepared - make sure your CV is up to date and ready to send to your chosen recruiters or employers
Include relevant industry terms when updating your skills. This will allow recruiters to quickly identify you when using industry buzzwords to search their databases
Make sure you don't miss out on your dream job by always showcasing your achievements. 'Achievement Amnesia' is the main reason behind candidates not getting that much sought after job interview
If necessary, register for online training courses that you can complete at your convenience that will put you one step ahead of other candidates should you enter the job market
It's important that you script and rehearse a range of interview questions so that you're never caught out
Remember that your CV is a marketing tool - focus on selling yourself and brush-up on your persuasion and influencing skills
Be realistic about how long it will take you to find a job in our current economic climate
Persistence pays off!
iProfile.org predicts 7 January will be the busiest day post Christmas for job hunting
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