Best Possible Time and Day to Send Your Resume
8 min read
A successful job search today takes a bit of hustle and a strategic approach. With your resume facing tons of competition for each position, even a slight edge could help you land that interview. It’s a question we hear very often: when is the best time to apply for jobs?
Surprisingly, submitting your job application on a certain day and at a particular time can help your chances of landing the interview. After all, you don’t want to catch hiring managers or recruiters when they’re swamped with emails or after they’ve reviewed many other candidates.
In this post, we’ll show you the best possible day and time to submit your resume to get a response. In addition, we’ll provide some other tips that you can use to help your resume stand out from the crowd and increase your odds of landing an interview offer.
Why timing your job applications matter
When it comes to the job search process, timing can be everything. Sure, you can have all the right qualifications and a host of recommendations proclaiming you to be the best thing since sliced bread. In the end, though, none of that will mean all that much if you submit your resume at the wrong time.
So, what does that mean?
Is January a good time to search for a job?
What is the hardest month to get a job?
What is the most popular day to apply for a job?
What is the best time to apply for a job?
As it turns out, there are right and wrong answers to these questions. Research has shown that there is value in submitting your resume on certain days of the week, at certain times of the day, and even during particular times of the year.
With that in mind, let’s examine the options to give you a better idea of the best time to apply for jobs.
What month should you apply for jobs?
Notwithstanding seasonal or holiday-type roles, there really isn’t anything that says a particular month is better than any other month. If a company is looking for staff, they’ll be actively recruiting in November and December just as much as they would in February or March. After all, a position that needs to be filled usually needs to be filled as soon as possible.
However, you’ll see a lot of advice that tells you the best time to look for a new job is the beginning of the fiscal year. That has to do with budgets being reset and momentum picking up on beginning-of-the-year projects.
What is the hardest month to get a job?
July and December are the hardest months to get a job. You’ll either be catching people during a time they’re on vacation, or it’ll be end-of-the-year wrap-up time, so interviewing job seekers will be at the bottom of the priority list. If it lies within the realm of possibility for your career, try to get into a new position during the first half of the year. Sometimes, switching jobs is unavoidable, but if you’re feeling burned out and just want a change, don’t start making major career change decisions after June.
What is the most popular day to apply for a job?
Most experts seem to agree that the best days of the week to submit your resume are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. The question is: why are these the best times to apply for jobs?
By sending your email on these days, you can avoid being part of the pile of emails that have amassed over the weekend. In addition, you can avoid that Friday rush many hiring managers face as they try to clear their desks before the weekend. Even though most companies are using an ATS to organize resume submissions, the person in charge of hiring may get an email when a new resume is submitted.
Is submitting your resume on another day of the week bad?
There is nothing inherently bad about sending your resume on Monday or Friday, but a simple look at the workweek of your average hiring manager provides clues to help us better understand why Tuesday to Thursday is truly the best time to apply for jobs.
Monday:
Hiring managers and recruiters are usually swamped with emails on a Monday. As they catch up on all the weekend emails and try to clear out their inbox, it may be difficult for your resume submission to capture their attention. You also should consider the “Monday blues”–yes, it’s true, most people aren’t the happiest or most productive at the start of the workweek. That may be why Monday is reportedly the most popular day for employees to call in sick.
Friday or weekends:
You also don’t want to send your email on Friday as hiring managers finish last-minute tasks and prepare for the weekend. You don’t want your resume to end up in that dreaded pile of weekend emails. There are really two possible bad outcomes in that situation: your resume submission gets lost in the shuffle along with all that other late-week email, or your email notification – and name – pop up on that hiring manager’s phone while they’re trying to relax on their time away from the office. Neither are good options.
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday:
During the middle of the week, hiring managers are more likely to have time to read incoming emails and resume submissions. With that in mind, it makes sense that Tuesday to Thursday may be the best time to apply for jobs because your email gets past the Monday pile and gives the recruiter or hiring manager time to analyze your resume and handle your application before the next weekend.
OptinMonster has a more comprehensive post that looks at Hubspot and additional studies about emails, open rate, and engagement rate. It’s geared toward marketers and newsletters, but much of the advice is good for the individual job seeker as well.
Still, it is also important to recognize that different studies have provided differing answers to these questions. Some of that research suggests that Monday can be a great time to get your resume submitted, preferably as early in the day as possible. In those studies, Tuesday usually comes in as the second-best time to apply for jobs.
What is the best time of day to send your resume?
The best time to send your resume is early morning or after 9 p.m. This ensures that the resume is seen by employers when they first check their emails. Sending it really early in the morning (before 9 a.m.) could be effective as it portrays determination. The hiring manager may take notice that you’re up early in the morning working on your job search.
Some have said that sending in your resume around noon is effective, but there are some good reasons to avoid that option. The bulk of emails are usually checked before lunch, and the last thing you want to do is submit your resume after other qualified candidates. Hiring managers may have already reviewed possible candidates and invited them for an interview.
You want to come off as considerate and respectful, so never send in your resume during holidays or long weekends. This could annoy the hiring manager, and that’s the last thing you want to do!
How early can you start looking for a job?
As you are probably aware, the average job search time in 2024 is about four months. So, if you’ve ever wondered, “Is 6 months too early to apply for a job?” the answer is “No.” Six months is a great time because if you find out that you lack a particular skill, you can probably pick it up before it’s time to start a new role.
Starting three months in advance is more commonplace, though. However, if the job search drags on for the entire three months, you may find that you’re feeling discouraged a lot. Most career coaching professionals will tell you that two months is usually the best length of time to commit to a job search. One month will only stress you out because of the rushed timeframe.
Expert Tip
In addition to applying to jobs online, you can also reach out to a company or a hiring manager directly. Read our guide to sending a cold email during the job search (with examples).
Strategy is your job-search friend
Knowing the best time to apply for jobs can be an important part of your job search, but don’t forget other important factors, including:
Sprucing up your resume with quantified qualifications
Updating your online presence, especially your LinkedIn and other social media profiles
Working with your network to find hidden opportunities
Getting ready for job interviews
Keeping track of the jobs you’ve applied for and following up in an organized and timely way
Remember that today’s job search process requires a smart and strategic approach. As always, good luck with your job search! We offer resume writing services that are guaranteed to land you more interviews. You can check our services page here.
Check how your resume performs on an ATS (applicant tracking system) scan with ZipJob's free resume review.
This article was originally written by Ken Chase in 2022 and updated by Marsha Hebert in 2024.
Recommended reading:
Written by
Ken Chase, Freelance Writer
During Ken's two decades as a freelance writer, he has covered everything from banking and fintech to business management and the entertainment industry. His true passion, however, has always been focused on helping others achieve their career goals with timely job search and interview advice or the occasional resume consultation. When he's not working, Ken can usually be found adventuring with family and friends or playing fetch with his demanding German Shepherd. Read more resume advice from Ken on ZipJob’s blog.
