One in Five Canadian Companies Increase Hiring in Fourth Quarter
7 Tips for Landing Year-End or Seasonal Jobs
TORONTO, Sept. 21, 2016 /CNW/ - As the year winds down, hiring picks up at many Canadian companies, new research from staffing firm OfficeTeam shows. One in five (20 per cent) of human resources (HR) managers interviewed said their organization typically increases hiring in the fourth quarter. Of those, 95 per cent of respondents indicated they bring on staff at year-end to address upticks in business, 94 per cent add new positions, and 89 per cent fill vacated positions.
HR managers were asked, "Does your company generally increase or decrease hiring in the fourth quarter of the year?" Their responses:
| Increase |
20% |
| Decrease |
6% |
| No general pattern/depends on hiring needs at the moment |
74% |
| 100% |
HR managers whose companies increase hiring in the fourth quarter were also asked, "Which of the following are reasons why your company generally increases hiring during the fourth quarter of the year?" Their responses*:
| Addressing uptick in business |
95% |
| Adding new positions |
94% |
| Filling vacated positions |
89% |
| *Multiple responses permitted. Top responses shown. |
"For many employees, the holiday season marks vacations and downtime, but for businesses, it often means finalizing projects, delivering year-end reports and setting objectives for upcoming programs," said Koula Vasilopoulos, a district president for OfficeTeam. "Ensuring ample resources are available to fill in for vacationing workers is a priority for managers who anticipate an uptick in workloads toward the end of the year."
Vasilopoulos added, "The coming months present a good opportunity for job seekers to continue their hunt for new or seasonal roles as companies strategize growth plans and look to staff their teams accordingly."
OfficeTeam offers seven tips for making the most of a job search during the fourth quarter:
- Freshen things up. Make sure your resume and social network profiles highlight your most recent achievements. If professional photos or job descriptions are out-of-date, be sure to update them.
- Polish your skills. Take a continuing education course or pursue certifications to increase your marketability. Stay on top of trends affecting your profession by reading industry books and magazines, and following relevant social media feeds.
- Reconnect with contacts. The end of the year provides a prime opportunity to check in with people in your network and let them know you're looking for a position.
- Make a wish list. Compile names of companies you're interested in working for and contact them regarding openings. Schedule informational interviews to learn more and get your foot in the door.
- Meet and mingle. At networking events and year-end parties, be prepared to discuss your background and the type of role you seek. You never know who might be able to help in the job search.
- Spend your time wisely. Put your abilities to work and gain additional experience by volunteering at nonprofit organizations or finding a temporary position. A staffing firm can help you secure interim or seasonal jobs.
- Think outside the box. Retail positions may be the most obvious options when seeking employment in the fourth quarter, but consider other types of companies that might be hiring. Employers in areas such as customer service, hospitality and tourism, insurance, fraud prevention, and shipping and packaging may also require assistance this time of year.
About the Research
The survey was developed by OfficeTeam and conducted by an independent research firm. It includes responses from more than 300 HR managers at Canadian companies with 20 or more employees.
About OfficeTeam
OfficeTeam, a Robert Half company, is the nation's leading staffing service specializing in the temporary placement of highly skilled office and administrative support professionals. The company has more than 300 locations worldwide. For more information, including job search services, visit roberthalf.ca/officeteam. Follow @RobertHalf_CAN on Twitter and the OfficeTeam Take Note® blog at roberthalf.com/officeteam/blog for career and management advice.
Contact: Naz Araghian
416.865.2140
[email protected]
SOURCE Robert Half Canada
Image with caption: "Year-End hiring picks up. (CNW Group/Robert Half Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160921_C4249_PHOTO_EN_777795.jpg
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