When is the Best Time to Start Hiring?

Determining when to start hiring employees can be tricky for a business. Whether your company is expanding, replacing departing workers, or filling seasonal demand, bringing on new staff members means finding the time to train and properly introduce new personnel into your corporate culture.  

Companies need to think carefully about when hiring employees makes sense for them and should time their hiring properly so they can ensure their staffing needs are always met and that they are attracting the most qualified candidates.

When is the Best Time to Start Hiring?

The best time to start hiring new staff for your business is going to vary depending upon your industry, the types of candidates you are looking to recruit, and your staffing needs.  In general, most companies should consider these tips to find the opportune time for bringing in new workers:

• Hire during prime job-hunting season: Most companies do the majority of their hiring in the beginning of the new year, starting around mid-January, or when fall arrives in September or October.  These times are optimal for hiring because people usually take their vacations during the winter holidays or the summer months but are back and ready for work by mid-January or September. When you hire during prime job-hunting seasons, the key staff that need to be available for interviews are more likely to be around. Since most job seekers know these are prime times for looking for work, you may also have a larger pool of potential applicants to choose from.
• Hire before college students graduate: If you are looking to recruit college students, you should start several months before the end of the school year so you can take advantage of the opportunity to catch soon-to-be grads who begin looking early. Most college students like to have a job lined up before graduation, so you may get a larger pool of talented new-grad applicants if you hire early rather than waiting until summer.
• Hire as your projections show the need for new staff: You don’t want to wait until your business is actually in need of new personnel to hire. If you know that current employees are leaving or that an expansion of business is expected that will call for new workers, start the hiring process early. This will give you plenty of time to find and train new staff members before you end up shorthanded.

SmartTalent can help you to find qualified candidates during any season.  For help hiring employees who can thrive and help your business to grow, contact our Western Washington staffing firm today.  We serve businesses throughout Lynnwood, Kirkland, Renton, Fife and surrounding areas and our staffing professionals are always ready to assist you in finding workers who will get the job done right.