Is fall really the best time to look for a new job? Our recruiting team thinks so.
More than just a trendy title, there’s a lot of truth to the ‘September Surge’ when hiring activity picks up through the fall season.
What’s the rationale behind the increased volume of job postings? Companies typically spend the latter half of the year — especially September through November — actively assessing their annual budgets and planning ahead for next year’s growth strategy.
We checked in with the ForceBrands team to get more intel on this hiring surge to see how job seekers should be leveraging this time of year to their advantage.
Here’s what they had to say:
Hiring is picking up
“It’s an exciting time for hiring, especially in the consumer brand space. We are seeing a lot of movement after a slower summer,” said Senior Executive Recruiter Brooke Westley. “Brands are looking for leaders to come on board, and get them set up for a strong 2024. I would recommend keeping your résumé updated and checking in with your favorite ForceBrands recruiter for any relevant open roles.”
The beverage alcohol sector is bustling
In terms of industry-specific roles, beverage alcohol jobs are in high demand this time of year.
“I typically tell candidates that contrary to popular belief (including my own before I started recruiting), many alc bev suppliers bulk up going into and during October, November, and December for a multitude of reasons, including anticipating budget resets at the end of the calendar year and driving volume on the retail side,” Executive Recruiter Madison Burch said. “Most of us on the supplier side would assume that nobody hires during September through December because it’s the highest volume segment of the year, but the opposite is true.”
The most in-demand roles
In a report released earlier this year, we found that the demand for agile and innovative finance talent is remarkably high. While that remains true, there are other functions that are also in demand across the consumer brand space.
When it comes to function-specific roles, sales jobs are popular across the board, notes Senior Executive Recruiter Bailey Brown. From leadership roles like VP of Sales to more middle management roles like Area Sales Managers, consumer companies are actively building out their sales teams.
Interested in taking your sales career to the next level? Reach out to one of our executive recruiters or explore our job board for open roles.
Don’t believe the hybrid workplace hype
Not all workplaces are going hybrid, despite the numerous research that suggests the trend is the new workplace norm.
“We’re still seeing that there is no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to in-office and remote work,” Senior Executive Recruiter Marisa Symeonides said. “Some brands have strong in-office cultures and have implemented either a flexible hybrid model or a fully in-office model, while others are continuing to embrace fully remote models.”
When it comes to finding the perfect role during this busy hiring season, our team agrees that patience is key.
“Exercise patience and maintain a positive outlook,” Executive Director, Recruitment Lauren Nitting said. “The market is competitive, but recruiters are here to support and guide them through a process.”
“When one door closes, another certainly can and will open,” she added.
ForceBrands offers end-to-end hiring solutions for all stages of growth. Whether you’re just starting to hire or are looking for the next step in your career, we’re here to help you be a positive Force that makes an impact.
