Did you know? The peak time for job changes is in January

What are the reasons people change jobs in January?

Many people find that January is an excellent time to make changes in their careers. According to Statistics Finland, job changes are indeed most frequent in January.

1. Holiday season serves as a reminder to prioritise wellbeing and mental health

The holiday season offers many people an opportunity to take a step back from what can be a hectic daily routine and reflect on their lives, including their careers. The time spent away from work with family and friends can highlight feelings of dissatisfaction with current job, leading to a desire for change.

The free time and recharge during the holiday season can often make people aware of the importance of work-life balance. If the current job doesn’t offer flexible working hours or remote working options, it can motivate people to look for new opportunities with more flexible companies.

2. Markets are full of interesting job opportunities

The labour market often sees a surge in vacancies at the beginning of the year. Companies set their hiring targets for the year and increase their recruitment efforts in January, knowing that people are more likely to change jobs after the holiday season. Seasonal jobs are also advertised in preparation for the summer, further increasing the number of vacancies to choose from.

This abundance of opportunities makes January an ideal time for people to explore their options and find a role that matches their career goals. The sheer number of vacancies can even motivate passive jobseekers, people who are not actively looking for a new job, to consider whether the grass might be greener on the other side.

3. New year’s resolutions are set

The start of a new year inspires many people to set personal and professional goals for the year ahead. As people set their intentions for the year ahead, many resolve to improve their career, whether that means looking for a new job or seeking a promotion. The motivation that comes with a new year can drive individuals to take action towards their career goals.

In addition, the New Year serves as a reminder to focus on skills development. Many people are motivated to learn new skills or take on new challenges, which can lead them to explore other job options if their current job doesn’t provide enough opportunities for skills development.

How to prepare and predict personnel changes?

Companies need to prepare for change, not try to avoid it. You can utilize data and predictive analytics, i.e., people analytics tools to forecast when employees are most at risk to leave your organisation. Data can also be used to determine any problem areas, for example whether some department has a higher employee turnover rate than others.

To prepare for employees leaving, it’s important to have a recruitment process in place so that new roles can be filled with the best new talent. Focus on the cultural fit of the candidate when looking for a new hire and make sure you have a comprehensive onboarding process in place.

However, it’s not ideal to constantly replace departing employees with new hires: it’s costly, time-consuming and usually signals that there’s something wrong with your organisation. Focusing on employee retention is key to keeping the top talent you would hate to see leave.

Read our article: Maximising employee retention – how to create a workplace where people want to stay?

What to do if a sudden staffing gap surprises you?

Despite the best preparation, job changes are not always predictable. The departure of key personnel can pose significant challenges for companies, as filling roles or recruiting takes time and resources. One effective way to address sudden staffing shortages is to utilize interim services. An interim expert is an effective solution in situations where diverse skills and experience are needed temporarily.

• An interim manager or executive leads a company, business, project, or key function for a specified period.
• A typical interim assignment lasts about 6 to 18 months.
• The interim manager always interacts with staff, clients, and stakeholders just like permanent personnel and assists in onboarding new hires if necessary.

Customer Story: How did Rederi AB Eckerö stabilize their finance function during resource changes?

Interim solutions differ from consulting in that the interim expert is integrated into the organization as if they were a permanent employee, available for the company’s daily operations at all times. In their role, interim experts often engage more deeply and closely with the company than consultants. An experienced interim expert quickly implements new operational models within the timeline agreed upon in the assignment contract.

Greenstep's interim resources are highly experienced management professionals. They have experience across various industries and different situations in both domestic and international markets.