The Best Times of the Week and the Year for Job Seekers to Send Out Resumes
When someone purchases a new vehicle, it is within their right to have high expectations of reliability and long-lasting performance from such a significant financial investment; it is, after all, fresh off the assembly line and unblemished by the effects of time, repeated use, and seasonal weather conditions.
However, if that new vehicle is continually in the repair shop for one issue after another, the buyer might simply walk away altogether and look for an alternative make or model. And once their original vehicle has been replaced, the purchaser could be excused if they expressed the sarcastic opinion that it must have been made on a Friday afternoon, with the inference being that less care is taken by assembly line personnel at that time of the week because they are in a hurry to finish their work before leaving for the weekend.
Whether this is true or not is open to debate, especially since something as complex as a vehicle is typically not constructed in its entirety in just one day. But this does raise an interesting question: are there better or best times of the day/week/year than others for people to engage in certain types of activities? In the case of applying for employment, explicitly as it relates to sending out resumes, it would appear that the answer is … yes.
This conclusion is based on results published by several recruiting agencies, subsequent to their extensive analyses of job postings and hiring data over a number of years; these reports have in turn led to the following recommendations for job hunters with respect to sending out their resumes (note – sent via electronic transmission):
- Best times of the year to send out resumes
- October-November, February-March, and May-June are optimal times
- The slowest months for hiring are December then August respectively
- January is the most competitive time re: number of applicants per job
- Best days of the week to send out resumes
- Tuesdays would appear to present the best prospects for job seekers
- The majority of job opportunities are posted on Mondays or Tuesdays
- The most acute attention is given to replies received shortly thereafter
- Thus candidates can improve their odds by applying as soon as possible
- Best times of the day to send out resumes
- Best window of opportunity: Tuesdays from 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
- Most employers post job openings online around 11:00 am or 4:00 p.m.
- A majority of candidates tend to respond/apply online around 2:00 p.m.
- Hence resumes sent just before noon will receive higher interest/priority
While these recommendations should not be taken as strict regulations nor as limitations for job hunters, they do provide a unique perspective on how to streamline/focus the job search effort as well as a model, in a sense, for increasing one’s chances of being noticed ahead of their competition and being granted an interview.
Knowing the Best Times to Send Out Resumes is Just Part of a Job Search Effort
It is important to note that all of the above planning and implementation will essentially be for naught if the content of the candidate’s resume does not resonate with the person or persons responsible for screening all of the applicants. In other words, knowing the best times to send out resumes is only part of the equation; the resume needs to make an impact, too.
For more than 40 years, the job placement specialists at Winters Technical Staffing, one of the leading recruitment agencies in Toronto, have been providing valuable insight and guidance to candidates looking for direction on how to prepare an effective and impactful resume and cover letter. Based on their considerable experience and success in placing qualified candidates with numerous employers within and outside of Toronto, the Winters Technical Staffing consultants can knowledgeably assist job seekers with such aspects of resume-writing as:
- Length
- Format
- Content
- Grammar
- Keywords
- Terminology
Additionally, through their extensive network of employer contacts and relationships, the consultants at Winters Technical Staffing often have knowledge of job opportunities that are not posted in the public domain, thereby providing candidates with a broader base of potential targets for which to send out their respective resumes.
For more information about the full scope services and resources available to job seekers through the specialists at Winters Technical Staffing, including their support with writing an effective resume, please go to our Services page.
Contact Winters Today
To learn more about the best days and times to send out resumes and/or how to prepare an impactful resume and cover letter, call the job placement professionals from Winters Technical Staffing today at 416-495-7422 or Contact us to request a complimentary consultation on how we can best support your job search efforts.