11.09.20087
With the Russian economy in rude health and new employment opportunities opening up, the vexing question of what time of year is best to move jobs has become more and more relevant. Russians traditionally believe that autumn is the time to find the best opportunities, but as the economy matures this nostrum is being challenged.
Many candidates believe that autumn is the most favorable time to look for a new job. "Traditionally, activity in the labor market increases at the end of summer. There is a group of companies that stop operating in summer and resume their work in autumn, and this dynamic affects all categories of personnel," said Oksana Pochtivaya, head of the recruiting department at AVANTA Personnel recruiting company.
Postponing the recruiting interviews till the end of summer could have some advantages. "As a rule, HR managers and other decision makers return from vacation and recruiting goes faster than in summer, when some of them could be out of the office," said Marina Gorina, consultant at Consort Petersburg. "Employers want to choose between several candidates but in summer they can't find enough people. Potential candidates are also on holiday. Employers wait and the recruiting process slows down." Ultimately, the candidate should decide whether he is ready to sacrifice holiday time for job-seeking. "People rarely quit companies in summer. They take a vacation to rest and gain strength before interviews," Gorina said.
TOO LATE… OR TOO EARLY
Most industrial plants have summer shutdowns but they start recruiting workers in summer. Usually February-March and the four months from September until December are the most active employment periods for industrial enterprises. Regardless of the season, candidates should not expect that there would be no competition, and that vacant places would just wait for them.
PERSONNEL WELCOMED
Some companies, like retail chains, are constantly looking for employees, regardless of the season. Autumn only increases the shortage of basic personnel. IT and telecom companies recruit new specialists when they start a new project, not necessarily in autumn. New investors coming to the city offer attractive job opportunities. "From time to time in the automaking industry, retail chains, car dealerships, banks and insurance companies up to 30 percent of personnel quit for a new employer, when a new plant, shopping center, car center, bank branch or insurance office opens," said Yury Mikhailov, Managing Partner of Consort Petersburg. According to Consort Petersburg, in St. Petersburg there is demand for construction specialists, engineers for production companies and technical personnel as a result of the growing volume of production and opening of new enterprises. "A number of automakers are to come to Leningrad Oblast," continued Mikhailov. "and the question is where all these companies will get so many new employees? Will the specialists simply migrate between the plants worsening the labor shortage and fueling salaries?"
INDIVIDUAL CHOICE
"People look for a new job in any season, if they have serious reasons for that," Mikhailov said. He considered autumn a risky period for job search. "After a summer relaxing, the person is not in the best condition, while finding an interesting and highly-paid job requires intellectual efforts and time. The same is true for the beginning of the year. In Russia, the first half of January is a continuous feast and frosty stagnation," he said. Mikhailov considered March-May and October-November the best periods to look for new jobs.
Marina Gorina warned against waiting for a good season to look for new employment. "Interesting vacancies could appear in any season, but candidates miss them if the time is unfavorable. You have to be constantly aware what is going on in the market, which companies expand their staff, which companies open and advertise new vacancies," she said. She recommended never to lose hope. "Job searches could last for several months and even years. Seeing this and starting the search all over again after three to five rounds of interviews, the candidate loses heart and looks rather pitiful. But employers want to find a person that radiates success."
Mikhailov advised candidates to analyze their strengths, competencies, skills and goals and then investigate the market. "You need not only analyze the existing vacancies but actively promote yourself through online resources, directly applying to potential employers and recruiting agencies," he said. "You should prepare an effective self-presentation and tactics of behavior during the interview taking into account your previous experience. You have to foresee possible questions and prepare short but convincing and irrefutable answers". Other important things to consider are the level of responsibility, employer’s expectations, and compensation packages for similar positions, he added.
“You should be ready for several interviews with employers’ representatives and know how to negotiate, if you are interested in this position and the employer is interested in you”.
Golden Autumn
The St Petersburg Times, 11th of September
BY YEKATERINA DRANITSYNA
close
