Why The September Surge Is The Perfect Time To Job Hunt For Your Next Career Move
Looking for a job is a full-time job in itself. When it comes to job hunting, everyone seems to be looking for a job, in an interview process, or getting ready to get back out there to make some kind of career change. Sometimes there doesn’t always feel like a light at the end of the tunnel but staying consistent can get you the new career you want.
With that being said, there are times of the year when your chances of finding your new career are better than others. One of those times is upon us now and it has been referred to as the September Surge.
What is the September Surge?
Okay so let’s just get to it. September Surge is the time of year when your potential to get a job is greater because companies go on a hiring uptick. The reason this is happening is because September marks the end of summer in most places. Many hiring managers, recruiters, etc. are coming back from summer vacations and are returning to their jobs.
The other thing to know is that most companies operate on a fiscal calendar that begins in September. This means that companies have the budget to fill positions and you will begin to see an increase in the amount of jobs that are posted as well as an increase in hiring activities.
This “surge" typically lasts from after Labor Day until Halloween, so you have a long time to get yourself out there if you are looking to make a career move.
How do you get prepared for September Surge?
I did some of the research for you and went to TikTok to ask an expert. Shaque’l Wilson, also known as the 6-Figure Chick (@shaquel_the6figurechick), has been a constant staple on #careertok where she posts her "jobs of the day," which usually include jobs in the tech space with six-figure salaries and incredibly sought after benefits packages. Through her content, she breaks down what you need to do to break into tech, scale the corporate ladder, and land a six-figure paying job in a way that empowers you to step into the job hunting with confidence and knowledge.
Shaque’l has helped hundreds of people land the career they want and offers services like DIY optimization of your resume and LinkedIn, as well as her accelerator program which gives you access to her and her resourceful team for a more hands-on experience.
Just my luck, Shaque”l happens to be very responsive to her TikTok comments, so I asked her what should someone who is job hunting have prepared for September Surge. She responded in a TikTok post and here are the top things that you should do according to the 6-Figure Chick to make September Surge work for you:
@shaquel_the6figurechick Replying to @Amer-Marie Woods hope this helps love!! #blackwomenintech #newjob #careertransition #jobhelp #septembersurge #layoffs
- Start applying to jobs early. Honestly, the time to start applying is in August. This is when recruiters gather all of the candidates that they will want to send through the application process in early September. Networking as early as possible gives you a better chance of being seen first and staying on a recruiter’s mind. But, no worries if you have not started yet, you should go ahead and get your materials organized now.
- Find companies that you are interested in and look to see if they have posted new job listings. You should also be doing this on the job boards that you trust as often as every other day. This is to stay on top of what new job postings are there because an influx of jobs will be appearing. A quick tip: Shaque’l has a TikTok that covers the job boards that she recommends besides using LinkedIn and Indeed, with verified jobs listed on them.
- Get specific on what job titles you are going to go after. You need to tailor or optimize your resume to that specific job. Additionally, you should also be optimizing your LinkedIn with keywords and updating your information so that when recruiters are doing a search you can be easily found. This part should be done first before you start to press the button on applying for jobs.
One last thing: always make sure you are networking! Your chances of getting a new career are higher when you have a referral from someone in the company.
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ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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Adelina Winfield Is Embracing The Beauty In The Aging Process
Anti-aging has been a new age phenomenon. We can barely scroll on our social media pages without being encouraged to try a new anti-aging product. It’s no wonder the anxiety of maturing is infiltrating the minds of young women every day. Adelina Winfield, known as The Fly Granny on Instagram, is among several maturing women working to change how we view aging today. Her fashion, skincare, and grey positivity journey has inspired women of all ages to embrace the journey.
Online and in-person, Winfield comes across as confident and truly comfortable in her skin, but she wastes no time letting us know it has been a journey.
“I began feeling the shift in my age when I turned 40. My body was going through many changes, and I didn’t feel youthful or beautiful anymore,” says Winfield. Winfield is open about her journey through menopause, describing it as a time she had to “relearn herself.” The side effects of menopause can be vigorous and isolating for women. According to a study conducted by Post Reproductive Health, 94.1% of women were never taught about menopausal symptoms. This is largely due to women keeping their menopausal and aging experiences private. Winfield says, “No one was discussing these topics at the time, and I felt lost.”
"I began feeling the shift in my age when I turned 40. My body was going through many changes, and I didn’t feel youthful or beautiful anymore."
Courtesy
The next few years were growing pains for Winfield. A divorce, menopause, and becoming an empty nester were just a few jarring life changes. As time went on, she began to date and feel comfortable in her body, but there was one challenge Winfield had been avoiding - her grey hair. “I had been dyeing my hair for decades. My son would try to convince me to go grey and embrace my inner ‘storm,’ but I refused in fear of looking older.” That mindset changed on a family trip to Italy. Winfield opted for silver faux locks that caused her to attract attention from bystanders. “People complimented my hair the entire trip, which gave me the confidence to let it go [grey].”
Simultaneously, Winfield had been sharing her grey hair journey online and found what she calls a “silver sister community.” Her story reached a demographic of thousands of mature women who could finally relate to an influencer who shared their experiences. Winfield had also found other maturing content creators redefining what life after 60 looks like. “We no longer say ‘anti-aging’ in our community; we call it ‘pro-aging,’” she says with immense joy. The idea of pro-aging brings ease to my millennial ears as I listen to Winfield’s story.
"We no longer say ‘anti-aging’ in our community; we call it ‘pro-aging.'"
Courtesy
Millennial and Gen-Z women have become deeply obsessed with holding on to their youth. This is mainly due to the beauty industry constantly pushing products against the aging process. Additionally, most beauty brands are not mindful about who they are marketing to. The topic of young girls under the age of 18 buying anti-aging products has found its way online.
This caused Dove to move the conversation forward by creating the #FaceOf10Ten campaign. Encouraging young girls everywhere to embrace their youth. It’s time beauty brands begin to provide age restrictions on their products, and as a society, we need to have more conversations around pro-aging instead of anti-aging.
“I want women to know that life doesn’t end at 40 or 50; it’s just getting started.”
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