With the new year, new opportunities exist for finding the right talent and building strong teams to stay ahead. Use this time as a fresh opportunity to reflect on all your business’s accomplishments and identify areas of improvement so you can effectively strategize hiring and attracting talent. January is the perfect time to start hiring and we’re going to tell you why.
Most industries see evolving markets which means constant change. Businesses need to have the right talent to be able to adapt to these changes quickly and take advantage of all the potential innovation and ideas that this year will bring.
7 Benefits of Hiring Early in the New Year
Here’s why it’s a good idea to start hiring in January.
1. New year – new budget
January generally marks the beginning of a new fiscal year for most companies. This means fresh budgets are in place with the financial flexibility for HR managers and hiring teams to make strategic decisions. Use this flexibility to align with broader business objectives and invest in the right talent to drive business growth for the year. With fresh budgets, now is the best time to grow your teams.
2. Seasonal slowdown in other areas
Many industries experience a quieter January with fewer big projects demanding attention. This is an excellent time to focus on your hiring strategies, with fewer distractions and the ability to dedicate more time and resources to investing in the right talent. Use this time to refine job postings and optimize recruitment practices along with strengthening your brand image.
3. Fresh start for onboarding
With the holiday season behind us, teams are more focused and less distracted at this time of year, making it the perfect time to onboard new employees. New hires can have a fresh start at the company with managers ready to train and focused on driving growth within their teams. Additionally, companies usually want to have goal-setting meetings for the new year and generally have a growth mindset. This is a great environment for new talent, allowing them to get involved in shaping new objectives.
4. Job seekers are motivated
With the new year, you will also find job seekers more motivated than ever. Professionals often reflect on their career growth at the beginning of a new year and are looking for opportunities to advance their careers. Therefore, there could be an uptick in job applications and candidate activity. Job seekers who were wary of applying during the holidays are now job hunting in full swing, giving employers access to a wide pool of talent ready to work.
5. Leveraging tech and data
If your company has invested in new tools, upgrading processes and existing systems, you can use this to your advantage by optimizing the recruitment process and improving candidate experiences. With more companies using applicant tracking systems (ATS) and efficient recruiting platforms, you can identify and recruit top talent more effectively and find the right fit for your company.
6. Staying ahead of the competition
Why wait to recruit when other companies are competing for your talent? By starting your recruitment efforts early, you will be able to secure top talent by being proactive. Being the first company to reach out to candidates will give you a competitive edge as it shows you are interested and will attract candidates to potentially join your organization instead of the competition.
7. Reinforcing company culture
Hiring at the beginning of the year will allow new hires to feel like they are part of the culture-building and goal-setting process right from the start. New employees are able to integrate with their team with a fresh perspective and energy. This is a great way to promote collaboration and inspire creativity which will only strengthen your company’s overall growth and performance.
Important Tips for January Hiring
Keep these four important tips in mind to make the most of January hiring.
Tip #1: Plan Ahead: Have a clear recruitment strategy and timeline. Identify the key roles that need to be filled and prioritize accordingly.
Tip #2: Leverage Referrals: Use this time to encourage employees to refer potential candidates. Referrals often lead to high-quality hires who are a good fit for the role and company.
Tip #3: Strengthen Brand Image: Make sure all company pages on social media are updated including all job descriptions to reflect the organization’s values, mission and vision for the new year.
Tip #4: Diversity and Inclusion: Prioritize diversity and inclusion as you hire. Diversity in teams leads to more innovation, as well as better conflict resolution and decision-making.
