Sometimes searching for a new job can feel like a never-ending search. There may be opportunities surrounding an individual and he/she may be reaching out, interviewing but there aren’t offers coming. The wait can seem pretty long and tiring. Any job search depends on the individual’s unique situation and the timeline should be treated according to it. How Long Does It Take To Get a Job?
It takes about eight weeks or more at times to get a job. Even when one is interviewing somewhere, the recruiters would the average time of hire takes up to three weeks. So the time required to get a job falls between the range of a few weeks to several months.
Job search is unique to everyone hence a single and specific timeline that would apply to every individual is impossible.
Unemployment and COVID-19
The year 2020 has been challenging for people all over the world due to the pandemic, which has continued to the year 2021. Individuals who are seeking employment or re-entering the workforce have to be concerned about the employment landscape.
The economic condition in the North American continent still hasn’t been able to get out of the aftereffects of the COVID-19. There is a high unemployment rate that even peaked in May 2020 at 13.7%.
Despite the economic shutdown, the unemployment rate is slowly decreasing as it was 10.9 in July 2020 and reduced to 8.5% in November 2020. This means that more people have got employed and hence would be good news for jobs seekers.
The pandemic may have affected many industries significantly but not all of them. Some of the offices have started remote work by moving to smaller offices or having no office space at all. This has resulted in more to spend from the budget on the hiring of new employees. So for everyone looking for a new job, they can be optimistic in 2021 instead of feeling discouraged.
Average Time for Searching a Job
In a search for a job, the most challenging part is not knowing how long it would take. Such kind of uncertainty affects every individual differently. Individuals who have recently graduated or those who are re-entering the workforce may feel the hunt for a job is time-sensitive and urgent.
Most of the time job searches take about two to six months. But it might take longer for executive positions as they tend to set the company’s tone. Wrong appointments of personnel for an executive position are capable of affecting the whole enterprise.
The timeline of an individual also depends on certain factors like the job search tactics, the economic conditions, availability of jobs in the area, and the individual’s efforts for the search. Such a thing might be hard to digest, hence one should give themselves at least six months realistically.
Such a loose timeline would cause no disappointment if the job hunt takes half a year. If they get hired sooner than that it will just come as a surprise. The US unemployment data from the BLS shows that the unemployment duration in May 2021 is 19.3 weeks to 5 months including all unemployed people and not just the ones looking and applying for jobs.
The search for a job depends on both the individual’s circumstances and the current state of the economy. One method of estimating the time is by looking up the unemployment rate in a particular field. This would help determine the demand for the individual’s skill set.
The unemployment rates according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics on August 2021 are:
- Business services – 4.6%
- Construction – 4.6 %
- Education and healthcare – 4.3 %
- Financial activities – 3.2 %
- Government workers – 3.6 %
- Information – 4.4 %
- Leisure and hospitality – 9.1 %
- Manufacturing – 3.6 %
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction – 10.2 %
- Retail and wholesale trade – 6.1 %
- Transportation and utilities – 5.9 %
This graph shows the unemployment rate at August 2021 in percentage by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics
The time needed for Job Hiring Process:
There is no fixed time for a job during the hiring process. The following are the estimations that can be applied in most cases:
- Submission of Application – After applying for a job, the reply to it takes about one or two weeks. While some employers take more time, others respond quicker. In case the size of the organization is smaller the response comes quickly. But in larger organizations, an application would travel through several channels before reaching the HR department hence the delay in the response.
- Interview – The interview process can be impacted by the number of candidates who have applied for the position. In such cases, the organization might hold several rounds of interviews like phone, virtual, or face-to-face to narrow down the candidates on the list. It might take several weeks in case the job is in high demand by a large number of qualified candidates.
- Offer – The individual has to wait for a week to ten days for a reply after the final interview. There are still factors that may affect this as well. Employees may need to run background checks, review security clearances, contact the references and even check the credentials if they had been earned from a foreign country, which would all take time. In case the individual has impressed his/her employer they might get hired after a week or so. If the position is for an executive or has a higher salary then the wait could be longer.
How to Get Jobs Faster?
The individual can accelerate the process of getting hired by following a few steps:
- Proofreading resume and cover letter
- Updating social media
- Sending out regular applications
- Contacting different companies directly
- Adjusting expectations
- Asking for feedback
- Improving personal skills
- Proofreading Resume and Cover Letter
The applicant should proofread their resume and cover letter before sending them out. Qualified applicants target specific jobs but the applicant’s resume should be strong enough so that only minor modifications can be made for different job positions instead of writing a new resume every time.
They should include the common keywords related to the particular job they are targeting that would in turn attract employers from different job sites. This would also connect them to experience-based relevant opportunities.
- Updating Social Media
Individuals looking for a job should make use of their social media pages for advertising their availability on the market. It is a very efficient way of using one’s network in finding a job. The individual can upload their resumes on job boards. They can also make connections with other people working in the same field to attract the attention of employers.
- Sending Out Regular Applications
For being an active part of the job market and to increase the chances of getting a job, one must send out applications daily. They can try out different strategies for reaching various employers and make the necessary adjustments in the applications for keeping their qualifications relevant. In fields that are highly competitive or in a tough job market, it is essential to keep a positive attitude and be motivated.
- Contacting Different Companies Directly
Individuals can inform different companies about their interest in a job before those companies post for an opening. The interested individuals can write a note along with a copy of their resume to the organizations to inquire about any open positions. In case they do not have an opening, they might even consider those applicants for future opportunities when there’s an opening.
- Adjusting Expectations
An individual can find jobs faster if they look outside of their field or even consider working part-time while they look for a full-time position. They should have reasonable expectations by staying open to all opportunities even if the job isn’t what they desired. They should consider every option that helps them find a job within their time frame.
- Asking For Feedback
An individual can ask for help from a trusted mentor or friend if it is taking a significant amount of time for finding a job. They can ask to have a look at the application materials and ask for further suggestions. In case, the candidate been able to interview they can also ask their interviewer for feedback. This would help them gain a proper and valuable insight that would in turn help them in improving their chances of getting the next job they apply for.
- Improving Skills
The individual can speed up the job process by gaining qualifications that would make their resume look competitive and meet the market demand. They can take a class or get a certificate in an area of expertise that various employers have been looking for. This would increase their chances of getting noticed.
Factors that Influence the Job Search:
Only a limited perspective is provided by understanding the demand for the job of a particular field. An individual should have realistic goals by staying motivated and using proper strategies for job hunting. Some of the chief factors that influence the time required for finding a job are:
- Location
- Flexibility
- Job searching methods
- Economic conditions
- Experience
- Professional network
- Unemployment period
- Material quality
- Other commitments
- Location
While big cities have more availability of jobs, smaller towns from rural areas have less. Competitive job markets vary from place to place. People looking for jobs in multiple cities and states for work have more job opportunities than those searching for jobs in a smaller radius.
The individual should consider the types of transportation options available and the kind of commutes they are willing to make. Relocation or working at remote locations can provide more job opportunities and speed up the searching process.
- Flexibility
The job search is faster if the individual is more flexible about the kind of work or the job location. People often avoid jobs from different fields. It is wise to take a lower-level job that would not only fill up the resume but also provide time for looking into other employment in the meantime.
More time is required for finding a job that meets one’s job requirements, to interview, and receive the offer for those who have strict standards.
- Job Searching Methods
The process of getting a job can be made faster by applying certain methods and strategies. The individual should apply for more jobs regularly for staying visible in the job market. They should also make use of various career sites and job boards. There is also the option of job placement services or they can directly reach out to the recruiters.
- Economic Conditions
The time one needs to find a job is also dependent on the national and local economy. People searching for a job during a recession will need more time than those in an economy that is booming.
The types of jobs available can also be influenced by the economic conditions. In times of economic crisis, people would spend all their money on purchasing necessities and less on luxury items for leisure.
- Experience
People with executive-level experience spend more time searching for a job than the ones at the entry-level. Higher-level jobs are very competitive. People within the same field compete for a small number of positions. They are overqualified for mid-level jobs.
- Professional Network
People often look for jobs using recommendations and referrals from their personal and professional networks. One can find leads and stand out by reaching out to the professional network.
Employers find candidates serious and trustworthy when there are people who can vouch for their expertise and skills
- Unemployment Period
People who are unemployed for longer periods have trouble finding jobs. Most of the time employees are biased against those with longer periods of unemployment and large gaps in their resumes.
Individuals can avoid these by being involved with volunteering work, personal projects, or taking different courses.
- Material Quality
The quality of the application can also affect the search period. An application full of simple mistakes like poor formatting or grammatical errors can cause employers to be displeased.
The chances of getting a job increases when one makes the necessary changes in the resume and cover letter according to the job requirements. The applications should equate the experience with the skill set and highlight the finest qualities.
Conclusion
Individuals having a hard time finding a job aren’t necessarily responsible for it. The factors that are out of one’s control often extend the period of job hunting. The only solution at those times is to continue their search while staying patient and following certain strategies. The right job for the individual will come when it is time and it’s worth such a wait.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Should one wait for their dream job or work elsewhere in the meantime?
An individual can work at a part-time or different job while he continues his/her search for the ideal job.
- What should an individual do if there aren’t any jobs available in their area?
They can broaden their area of search as there might be jobs available elsewhere.
- Can recession affect job availability?
Certain jobs are affected by the recession. People spend their money on necessities over luxury products at such times of crisis.
