Job searching by Fiscal Quarters. A career angle

Consider fiscal quarters alongside your career search. Remember there is a financial component to hiring. Budgets for hiring are released quarterly, starting at the top of each quarter, and normally there is a deadline by the end of a quarter to make a hiring decision.

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If you know that typically fiscal quarters start on January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1, be prepared to see new job postings during those months.

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However, hiring decisions and interview processes can be stagnant and delayed, because of deadlines being months away for a potential start. This is done for various reasons, but can get hiring managers the sense that they have time to find the “right fit”

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Since you will see most job offers being extended in March, June, September, and December, take your time in between to network and research your favorite companies. Keep your favorite positions saved and pay special attention to how many job openings there are per company. More positions may mean they are building out a department or typically hiring for multiple roles in that quarter.?

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Apply with the expectation that an offer will come or call back will come close to the ends of the quarters as mentioned above.

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It's okay to go through multiple interview processes simultaneously. If a hiring process is delayed or you are not hearing back soon after the interview, do not consider the role closed out unless you have been told by your point of contact there.

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It is very common if you apply to roles at the beginning of the quarter, that you will have a lengthier time in between interviews before a decision is made vs someone who applied to the same role toward the end of that quarter.

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Just be patient and practice your interviewing and salary negotiation skills in the meantime.? If a company takes a while to get back to you after the interview is just more ammunition you have to negotiate pay, receive multiple offers and counteroffers, etc.

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Another thing tracking fiscal quarters can do is help you to prepare for a layoff. If you know that your company or department is not doing well, layoffs normally will come at the end of a quarter. This is because every new quarter is considered like a financial reset, so any expenses and losses should be dealt with by the end of a quarter for reporting purposes.

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You can spend the beginning of a quarter meticulously job-searching to get yourself ahead of the game in a situation like that.

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The idea of job searching by fiscal quarters is a strategic angle that can help mitigate financial hardship and keep your career search efficient and organized.

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