Who joins me in loving this time of year? For me, there is something about a crisp start to the day, the colours, and the general shift change as we enter autumn. As soon as I see that autumnal sunshine I’m desperate to get outside. Coat – tick! Sunglasses – tick! Leaves crunching underfoot – tick! I just love it!

There is a tree outside my house that glows brilliant red as I write this. It’s beautiful. This tree fully embraces change and does its thing each and every year no matter what; from losing its leaves to growing them again, from bud to green leaves to red, much to my delight. This tree has made me think a lot recently about change, and the cycle so many of us face when it comes to our careers. Autumn can especially be a reflective time when many people consider changing their roles or even changing the direction of their careers. As the weather starts to cool down, recruitment tends to heat up, and right now might just be the best time for you to hire.

Change is a funny thing. It can be good, we can be fearful of it, and sometimes we don’t choose it. We seem to be living in a time where there is constant change, and we’ve had to become more resilient to it. I support clients and candidates in embracing whatever changes they are facing, especially within their careers and businesses – I’ve become a big believer in it, and am more trusting of it than I used to be.

We are in the last quarter of the year, facing forwards and planning for the year ahead which makes autumn a particularly busy time. An exciting time really. Businesses no doubt want to ensure annual targets are achieved, but also that the right team is in place for the year ahead making it the perfect time to recruit.

Below I have outlined my five top reasons why autumn is a great time to make positive changes to your business and grow your team;

1. Having the right team in place to deliver next year’s strategy – Consider the time that will be taken to source, interview, and appoint candidates, but also any notice period your chosen candidate will need to serve.
2. Onboarding new employees before the end of the year – For many businesses, the end of the year can be a little quieter meaning more time to thoroughly train and your candidate can hit the ground running come January.
3. Candidates’ heads may be more turn-able right now. Typically, we set our goals at the beginning of the year and review them during the last quarter. If these haven’t been achieved, candidates are more likely to consider starting a new role, and you’ll be tapping into a stronger talent pool of motivated individuals.
4. Less competition from other hirers – Some businesses choose to slow down their hiring in Q4 which can work to your advantage. You’re positively positioning yourself to sweep up the best talent on the market.
5. Team Inclusivity – Including your new hire in any end-of-year meetings, planning sessions, and even your Christmas party will give them the best first impression of your business. As you all take time over the festive period to unwind, your new colleague is much more likely to feel part of the team and rearing to go come January.

There are many ways in which Benchmark can support your business, for further information about recruitment, retention or our internal recruitment offering please get in touch.