• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

Social Security unraveling: 7,100 workers sacked, performance metrics retired, disability claims falling

2

Erin Brockovich, the activist who defeated a utility giant and inspired a Julia Roberts film, is pushing data centers to be more transparent

3

'Where we are today is frightening': a Pulitzer-winning historian sees a doomsday scenario involving China and the national debt

1

Social Security unraveling: 7,100 workers sacked, performance metrics retired, disability claims falling

2

Erin Brockovich, the activist who defeated a utility giant and inspired a Julia Roberts film, is pushing data centers to be more transparent

3

'Where we are today is frightening': a Pulitzer-winning historian sees a doomsday scenario involving China and the national debt
Financerecruitment
Europe

The September surge: Now is the best time to find a new job, according to the experts

Orianna Rosa Royle
By
Orianna Rosa Royle
Orianna Rosa Royle
Associate Editor, Success
Down Arrow Button Icon
Orianna Rosa Royle
By
Orianna Rosa Royle
Orianna Rosa Royle
Associate Editor, Success
Down Arrow Button Icon
September 5, 2023, 10:54 AM ET
Young smartly dressed woman walking with phone in hand
All of the experts Fortune spoke to agreed that September generally is a good month to job-hunt—in comparison to August, anyway. Luis Alvarez—Getty Images

If you’re on the hunt for a new job but the summer has seemed incredibly quiet, you’re not alone.

Recommended Video

The so-called September surge isn’t anything new in the recruitment sector. The term has been used in corporate America for years to describe the increase in job hunting and job vacancies posted between Labor Day (the first Monday in September) and Halloween (October 31).

But the phrase is now going global and entering the vocabulary of Gen Z thanks to TikTok, with the hashtag #septembersurge racking up over 6.6 million views.

“If you’ve been looking for a job and haven’t had any luck, pay attention because September surge is happening,” Chanelle Howell, a self-titled recruitment guru who has one of the most viewed videos on the topic, said. 

Howell thinks that the combination of executives heading back to work after the summer months and having more budget than anticipated toward the end of the year is what makes September “one of the busiest times” for hiring talent.

“Be ready,” she advised her followers. 

@chanelle.howell

You have the best chances of finding a job in September #opentowork #septembersurge #professionaltok

♬ original sound – Chanelle Howell

Meanwhile, one job seeker who had stumbled on the vacancy term through TikTok even admitted to hitting pause on his hunt for new opportunities until the “surge” began. 

“I am postponing the job search until September because I just found out that there’s something called September surge when a lot of companies and industries start hiring heavily, because right now a lot of people are on vacation,” said user @texpatpat.

“Now I know that September through Halloween is the hiring season I feel much better,” he added, while lamenting that job searching has been taking a mental toll.   

@texpatpat

#septembersurge #wfm #remotejobs #jobhunt2023 #linkedinprofile #jobhunting

♬ original sound – texpatpat

But will those who are holding out on finding a job in the fall be bitterly disappointed, and is the September surge actually real? The answer isn’t so clear-cut, recruiters tell Fortune.

August is generally a quiet period

All the experts Fortune spoke to agreed that September generally is a good month to job-hunt—in comparison to August, anyway.

Katherine Jackson, regional director at the British-based FTSE 250 recruitment firm Michael Page, says that every year the company witnesses a surge in job ads after the summer slump.

“With many taking their foot off the accelerator over summer to enjoy family or holiday time, September is ‘back to school’ season and that also means back to business,” she adds. “And, with the final quarter of the year fast approaching, businesses are more likely to have clarity on their remaining budget.”

New data from Gumtree—a website that can be scoured for everything from job listings to secondhand laptops—echoes that July and August are traditionally slower months in terms of the number of people replying to job listings. However, there’s a sharp uptick in the number of jobs advertised, interest from prospective employees, and response time from September onward.

“Over the summer months, the volume of job listings posted on Gumtree declines, along with the number of replies from prospective employees to the adverts,” Jill Cotton, career trends expert at Gumtree, comments on the findings. “But come September, both employers and job hunters spring into action.”

But this can vary depending on the industry and role seniority you’re going for, as well as whether you’re already employed. 

“If you’re out of work right now, you might start seeing more job opportunities this month,” says Lewis Maleh, CEO of the global executive recruitment agency Bentley Lewis. “However, if you’re in work and looking to move, you might have to think carefully if you want to move now, as you might miss out on receiving your bonus or have to find a company willing to offer you a signing-on bonus.”

Plus, you might have more luck finding a job in September in some sectors than others. “Retail, for instance, often ramps up hiring well before the holiday season, so September might not be the ideal time in that sector,” he said, while adding that seasonally driven jobs will have different peak hiring months.

Meanwhile, if you’re in a leadership position, chances are you’re in demand all year round.

“If a senior leader or key staff member resigns, a company will look to replace them no matter the time of year,” Maleh adds. “The dynamics at the senior level have much more to do with the volume of roles than time of year.”

Really, job hunting can be a year-round endeavor

Job seekers who haven’t yet refreshed their resumes in time for the September surge needn’t worry—although the job market does pick up after the holidays, it doesn’t wind down as the month ends either.

“October can be a perfect time to land a job that’ll see you start afresh in the New Year. The end of the financial year in April also brings plenty of opportunity,” Jackson says.

Meanwhile, Maleh thinks that January and February are good months to job-hunt.  

“Companies are more likely to have a full view of open roles they need to fill,” he adds. “Companies will also have generally paid bonuses around then, so you’ll see more resignations and therefore more vacancies.”

About the Author
Orianna Rosa Royle
By Orianna Rosa RoyleAssociate Editor, Success
Instagram iconLinkedIn iconTwitter icon

Orianna Rosa Royle is the Success associate editor at Fortune, overseeing careers, leadership, and company culture coverage. She was previously the senior reporter at Management Today, Britain's longest-running publication for CEOs. 

See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Finance

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Finance

Soldier Field in Chicago during 1994 FIFA World Cup opening ceremonies
EconomyWorld Cup
Some of the biggest U.S. sporting towns decided not to host any World Cup games, fearing a ‘major financial burden to our cities’
By Tristan BoveJune 3, 2026
3 hours ago
CHONGQING, CHINA - JANUARY 22: In this photo illustration, a smartphone displays the logo of Automatic Data Processing, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADP), an American provider of human capital management solutions including payroll, workforce management and business outsourcing services, in front of a screen showing the company's latest stock market chart on January 22, 2026, in Chongqing, China. (Photo illustration by Cheng Xin/Getty Images)
EconomyLabor
AI was supposed to be killing jobs. In spring, the labor market is opening up instead
By Eva RoytburgJune 3, 2026
3 hours ago
zhu
ConferencesCOO Summit
‘One thing after the next’: Axon and Schneider Electric supply chain chiefs talk life in permanent disruption
By Nick LichtenbergJune 3, 2026
3 hours ago
dr. oz
HealthWhite House
Dr. Oz on why Trump appointed a real-estate heir as acting intelligence chief: ‘I think Bill’s a great guy. I know him socially’
By Will Weissert, Josh Boak and The Associated PressJune 3, 2026
3 hours ago
A $245 million Bitcoin heist led police to a ‘Godfather’ who hired Sheriff’s deputies as enforcers
North AmericaCrime
A $245 million Bitcoin heist led police to a ‘Godfather’ who hired Sheriff’s deputies as enforcers
By Dave Collins and The Associated PressJune 3, 2026
3 hours ago
Kalshi reported former Rep. George Santos for allegedly placing a bet on the marketplace against his own attendance at the State of the Union
North AmericaKalshi
Kalshi reported former Rep. George Santos for allegedly placing a bet on the marketplace against his own attendance at the State of the Union
By Jake Offenhartz and The Associated PressJune 3, 2026
4 hours ago

Most Popular

Social Security unraveling: 7,100 workers sacked, performance metrics retired, disability claims falling
North America
Social Security unraveling: 7,100 workers sacked, performance metrics retired, disability claims falling
By Katie Savin, Callie Freitag, Matthew Borus and The ConversationJune 2, 2026
1 day ago
Erin Brockovich, the activist who defeated a utility giant and inspired a Julia Roberts film, is pushing data centers to be more transparent
Environment
Erin Brockovich, the activist who defeated a utility giant and inspired a Julia Roberts film, is pushing data centers to be more transparent
By Marco Quiroz-GutierrezJune 1, 2026
2 days ago
'Where we are today is frightening': a Pulitzer-winning historian sees a doomsday scenario involving China and the national debt
Banking
'Where we are today is frightening': a Pulitzer-winning historian sees a doomsday scenario involving China and the national debt
By Nick LichtenbergJune 2, 2026
1 day ago
Current price of oil as of June 2, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of June 2, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJune 2, 2026
1 day ago
Cognizant CEO says AI is remaking middle managers into player-coaches who can 'both  execute and develop others'
Newsletters
Cognizant CEO says AI is remaking middle managers into player-coaches who can 'both execute and develop others'
By Diane BradyJune 2, 2026
1 day ago
Current price of gold as of June 2, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of gold as of June 2, 2026
By Danny BakstJune 2, 2026
1 day ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.