Figures from Resource on Demand show more employees will hand in their notice this week than during any other week of the year, with 37% of the year’s total transpiring this week alone.
Year on year statistics gathered by Resource on Demand show 37% of resignations occur in the third week of September and 24% happen during the first week of February. Both of these bouts occur four weeks after the end of traditional holiday seasons.
This research also shows while many career changes are triggered following these key holiday periods, it takes candidates on average four weeks to job hunt and attend interviews, then a further four weeks to work their notice – meaning the majority of post-summer resignations only start their new roles at the beginning of November.
Lee Durrant, managing director of Resource on Demand, said: "This week will see hundreds of thousands of people handing in their notice across the UK & Ireland. The catalyst is often the summer break, when people return from their time away looking to progress or alter their career path. After mulling it over on a beach, job hunting, applying, interviewing and working their notice, many candidates will naturally opt this week to hand in their notice and so a ‘merry-go-round’ of the jobs market will begin."
A recent (July 2010) study by the Institute of Leadership and Management revealed 40% of workers do not return from their holidays feeling more relaxed.
Durrant added: "It is incredible that over half of all new jobs are triggered by the two key holiday seasons, but in many ways it is also unsurprising. The time away from our desks helps us to consider our options and evaluate our careers. Our advice is that if you are not enjoying your job, maybe it is time to look for a role that you will enjoy. This may include training to reach that goal, but it is worth the time that you invest into it."
