Fresh Start, New Job?
The period after the summer holidays and Christmas is traditionally a time of significant job changes. Many people reflect on their career plans during the break, often discussing with their partner how the upcoming year might look in terms of work. Employers, too, often reassess budgets in September, finding room to expand their teams. In short, holidays are over, and it’s time to shake things up!
Or is it? It’s worth considering whether you’re ready for a new step or just struggling with post-holiday inertia. In the United States, there’s even a term for this phenomenon: the post-vacation blues.

More Permanent Jobs

If you’re convinced that your talents could be better utilised elsewhere, this is the time when I receive many CVs from experienced professionals looking to explore their market options. While I mainly work on an assignment basis with my clients and partners, I also make time to meet new professionals and stay in touch with the career aspirations of those I already know. Additionally, I share the assignments I’m working on via LinkedIn and the websites of Lintberg or Executive Search Nederland.
Interestingly, I’ve noticed a shift from self-employed professionals towards permanent roles. Whether this is due to the tightening of regulations for freelancers, I’m not sure. However, clients are increasingly building their permanent teams, relying less on freelancers than before. This trend isn’t just about cost savings; there’s a growing preference for stable teams with permanent colleagues. So, more permanent jobs are on the rise.

Recruiting Takes Time

If a client wants to hire someone in the final quarter, I start working backwards. In today’s (challenging) candidate market, it takes two to four months to recruit and onboard someone. The search itself requires a month or two, and then a professional may have a notice period of several months. That’s why I advise clients to initiate recruitment ideally before the summer holidays. If circumstances push the timeline to September, it can be a reality check for the client that the process may take longer than expected.

Resign or Wait?

But should you give in to the post-vacation blues after the first week back at work? Sometimes, it’s wise to give yourself time to settle back into your work rhythm and consider what you truly enjoy and find challenging. If you conclude that you’re ready for a career move, start by dusting off your CV. More on that later!

Read What can you do if you’re hit by post-vacation blues after a wonderful holiday? The Harvard Business Review offers some do’s and don’ts. Important to remember: just as it takes time to relax on holiday, it also takes time to get back into work mode. Read more here.

Watch How do you know if it’s time to look for a new job? In this TED Talk from the series The Way We Work, entrepreneur Chieh Huang explains what to look for and the first steps you should take (hint: networking!).