The year 2023 has been an interesting one in our business. That is to say, the people/search business. Q1 started off a bit slower than usual with some significant global uncertainties. With all the talk about interest rates, the stock market, recession, and the worsening Russian/Ukrainian War—even when the produce business was going relatively well, with water, weather, and consumption, etc., many of us had “pulled in our horns” and acted a bit bearish with spending and hiring.
It made sense, as most of 2022 was very busy with hiring. 2022 was the catchup year from the core COVID era.
By the end of Q1, the business bounced back into full swing. Despite all the craziness happening in the world, consumers continue to eat fresh produce. The bulls are running again! As for hiring, the facts are that our industry is feeding the world and we still have many Baby Boomers. More about that later.
So, let me peer into my crystal ball… Around November 15, everyone’s minds shifted to the holidays, family, and buttoning up the year in business. Now, it’s onto tax and bonus season. Around January 15, employers emerge from their year-closing cocoons and employees from their post-holiday bliss.
Now what? It’s time to get to work! Employers look around and decide to get busy with the tactics that align with their next year’s strategies, including new initiatives, projects, and, yes, new hires. Then, we are in to February.
What about the employees? Well, some of them have decided that 2023 or 2024 is their last year on the hamster wheel. More Baby Boomers are 65 and older than ever; their 401Ks are looking pretty darn good, and they are retiring at an increasing rate.
The second largest group, by age, are millennials—the eldest in that group are in their 30s now. So, there’s a gap. We have groups of people who are looking to fill those Boomer seats and/or the seats of those filling the Boomer seats. Yes folks, it’s musical chairs and the music will start playing as soon as January 15.
You can’t stop the music!
You can prepare…..
Employers: Get a jump on your competition and look ahead!
Start now, in Q4! Get a jump on the competition and take advantage of a quieter new search/recruiting period. You’ll most likely hire the final candidate in Q1 of the new year when you’re ready for them to start, when they’re finished with the holidays and ready for a fresh start themselves.
Job Seekers: Don’t laugh—you’re just as bad. You’re trying to make a great first impression for that six-digit job with your zero or two-digit resume. Even worse, you may have no long-term destination, plan, or path. Your career strategy is based on how happy you are today and whether you can make $20K more this year to buy a (fill in the blank).
My ongoing joke with my wife is our weekend Along Came Polly plan; the “no-plan plan.” Hey, don’t get me wrong, I love those weekends sometimes. They’re some of the most fun and least productive weekends ever! But, not the way you want to describe your career path.
So, take the time now and make a plan. That very well could include staying right where you’re at with a great employer and plenty to learn and places to grow. Perhaps not. Frankly, I could go on here—in the interest of time and space for this story, I’ll share a few past articles which you can access via the QR codes here.
Employer:
Job Seeker:
Wishing you all a healthy, happy, and productive 2024! 
