*Disclaimer - The averages provided in this blog are based on a selection of our own data from 2020 and 2021 and are subject to change.*
Applying for jobs can be a frustrating process, especially as you are normally waiting on prospective employers to get back to you. As time goes on, you can be left wondering how long it will really take to get a new job or whether you will really ever hear anything back at all.
This waiting game is often the most difficult part of being a job seeker, so to help make your journey a little clearer we pulled some of our own industry averages around how long things really take once you submit an application.
How long is it until I hear back from job application?
Around 10 days is our average period of time to get back to you whether you have been invited to an interview or your application has been unsuccessful. This is similar to the timescales of when you apply direct to an employer, which can vary from one to two weeks on average.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that processes can’t be shorter. If applying for a role through a recruiter, it is likely you will be contacted up to 72 hours after application to discuss your eligibility for a role before a consultant sends your CV over to the prospective company.
As a side note, it is always worth being open to a conversation with a recruiter during this time, as they may also be able to point you in the direction of other roles they are working on or be able to pitch you to companies, effectively helping you with your job search.
How long until I get a job interview following my CV being sent to a business?
On average we invite job seekers to interviews with prospective clients in around 14 days following application.
However it is worth noting that this can vary based on company requirements, often if it is an urgent role then you may be invited to an interview in as little as a week following application. And depending on the size of the company and the volume of applicants, timescales may take longer due to following more screening processes.
How long does it take to get an offer after a job interview?
On average we see job seekers being offered roles around 3 days after an interview, taking into account other interviewees and making decisions around the offer (including benefit packages).
However, this can be a difficult one to gauge as companies often follow different interview processes, with some opting to go down a multi-stage process and others content after just one interview.
How long is it from job offer to start date?
This varies based on your circumstances and company need, and can be anything from one day to 4+ weeks.
Often notice periods are the biggest factor which extend the start-date, where we have seen periods of between 1 week to 3 months depending on the seniority level of the candidate and former employers requirements.
If you take this into consideration, the overall job seeking process from application to start date is highly variable and dependant on individual circumstances and business requirements.
What has changed since 2020?
The pandemic has changed a lot around the recruitment process, however the averages provided in this blog are based on a combination of our own 2020/2021 data.
On the whole those businesses who are hiring currently have an urgent need for talent as they are upscaling their businesses following delays and setbacks in 2020 and the identification of new digital revenue streams. In some cases this has sped up the recruitment process, especially for those individuals with digitally focused skillsets, including Marketing and Development.
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Header: Image adapted from Photo by Pixabay from Pexels
