JANUARY PROVES A POPULAR MONTH FOR JOB SEEKERS

According to new research from www.jobsite.co.uk, 7 January 2008 is the busiest day in the year for UK jobseekers, with nearly half of all UK employees likely to search for new career options online The Jobsite research of over 1,500 UK employees reveals a staggering 42% of people are planning to hunt for work this month (January), with the majority planning to start their search for a new job on the 7 January.

The second most popular day is the 31 January when most people receive their first pay cheque of 2008. Sixty one per cent of jobseekers plan to spend more than two hours a day on their New Year jobhunt whilst 41% of employees will be searching for vacancies when they should be working.

The research also reveals that posting vacancies online will be the most effective method of attracting candidates this year, as jobhunters are now most likely to search for a new job via the internet – 48% of people polled say this is the easiest way to look for work. A further 22% will look through ads in the papers, whilst one in 10 will only apply for a job if they hear about it from friends or family.

Keith Potts, CEO of www.jobsite.co.uk, which carried out the research, said: “The New Year is often seen as a good time to make changes and start afresh. With time off over Christmas to reflect on your current job situation it’s perhaps unsurprising that the first Monday back in the office – which this year is the 7 January – sends most people looking for something more fulfilling.

Potts added: “To capture and retain the interest of these high quality, semi-active jobseekers who are speculatively looking to see what’s out there, recruiters need to be highly visible during this peak time . The jobhunting cycle tends to be three months for candidates, so if recruiters can reach this surge of new jobseekers today, they can ensure a steady supply of candidates this quarter.

The poll of 1,500 candidates revealed that almost half of people have used the Christmas break to think about their career, with 62% saying they think the New Year is an ideal time to have a new start. While money is the most significant driver behind jobhunting in January, 51% of UK workers also crave more job satisfaction with more than one in ten say they are unhappy in their current job.