March 31^st should be a big start date for companies and job seekers.

This is the time to actively look for a new job.  Budgets have been approved and internal job postings have been available for several weeks. Companies are now advertising these jobs publicly on their websites and on platforms like LinkedIn.

This is the sweet spot where job seekers are more likely to engage with hiring managers who need to get projects up and running by the end of the first quarter. It is mutually beneficial for companies and candidates to target March 31^st as the start date.

What are the advantages to keeping this date in mind?

Advantages to Applicants:

• There is more hiring urgency as project timelines get pushed back without the right talent in place
• Opportunity for benefits to kick in sooner – potentially April, May or June first
• Potential for bonus eligibility that spans the entire year (or ¾ of the year)

Advantages to Companies:

• Hit Q1 hiring targets
• Get projects on track for the remainder of 2025
• Pool of fresh talent who are serious about making a job change in the new year
• Fresh budgets can provide more flexibility in hiring decisions
• Securing talent in the first quarter mitigates the risk that job seekers will stay in their current position longer to secure their annual bonus.

March 31^st Checklist:

How can you, as a job seeker, determine if you are ready to hit that March 31^st start date goal?

• You have already received your bonus from 2024
• You have already had a conversation or received your review / raise from 2024
• You have already asked for additional compensation or a promotion

If the above checklist influences your decision to make a job change now, then you aren’t ready to take the next steps.

Otherwise, start with the following:

• Update, edit and peer review your resume. Limit your resume to two pages and make your objective clear. Don’t leave hiring managers guessing about what you want from a new job.
• Talk to staffing agencies and take the temperature on your local hiring market. Be specific about what you want and – including title, location, responsibilities, and industry.
• Go beyond applying to a job ad. Seek out the name and contact information of someone at the organization that might be able to help you get your resume in front of the right people
• Network now. Spend the time reaching out to family, friends, and old co-workers who can guide and accelerate your search.

Finally, if you are seeking a new job because you were recently laid off- this is the time to actively invest 8 hours a day looking for a new one. There is a lot of research, emails, and calls to make if you want to take advantage of this hiring sweet spot over the next 4 weeks.