Driven By Impact: End of Year Hiring and Job Seeking Struggles!

Driven By Impact 🌱

Edition 29: November 2, 2023

Navigating the End of the Year Job Market: A Synopsis for Hiring Managers and Job Seekers

As the year comes to a close, there are common misconceptions surrounding both hiring and job seeking. While the holiday season approaches, the active job market still continues to thrive. Job seekers persist in their search, while hiring managers remain active and hiring. It is important to debunk the false notion that the job market freezes during this time.

In this week's blog post, we will provide valuable tips and tricks for both hiring managers and job seekers, helping them make the most of this perceived "slow" time. We will delve into the key challenges faced by both parties and offer solutions to overcome them. Even if you are a job seeker, the insights shared in the hiring manager section will be relevant, as it is crucial to understand their perspective. Similarly, hiring managers can benefit from the job searching section, gaining valuable insights into the job seeker's experience.

Overcoming Hiring Challenges at the End of the Year

1. Budget Constraints: When the year comes to a close, companies often have fixed headcount and budget tied to their fiscal calendar, which typically resets at the end of the year. Sometimes headcount can carry over from year to year, but not always. This can motivate hiring managers to fill positions before the end of the year and not risk losing their budget and headcount the following year. Contrary to popular belief, many companies actively seek candidates until the final weeks of the year.

2. Time Management: The year-end rush involves juggling hiring with essential tasks like end-of-year reviews and planning for the upcoming year. Additionally, scheduling meetings becomes a challenge when key decision-makers are out of the office. This is particularly daunting for hiring managers facing the prospect of losing headcount or budget for a role at the turn of the year.

Solutions:

• Alignment and Transparency: Ensure internal hiring teams are clear on expectations and the hiring process. Be transparent with candidates about the goal of filling the position by year-end. Communicate openly with candidates early on in the process. Climate People’s Founder, Brendan, was recently featured in an article on the importance of intentional hiring processes for securing top technical talent. This articles insights can be applied here!

• Streamlined Process: Establish a streamlined approach with predefined expectations and qualifications. By aligning the team's vision for the ideal candidate, you can reduce the need for sign-offs at every stage of the process. This efficiency not only saves time, but also enhances diversity and improves the experience for job seekers.

• End-of-Year Advantage: Hiring at the end of the year gives you a competitive edge in securing top candidates before the influx of hiring in the new year. Capitalize on this opportunity by making compelling offers to candidates you have identified as exceptional before you’re faced with greater competition for that talent in the new year.

• Climate Competition: Hiring managers in climate are consistently seeking exceptional candidates. However, competition is particularly fierce as smaller companies find it challenging to rival larger and more established organizations in terms of salary and benefits. This underscores the importance of maintaining a proactive hiring process, even during the year-end.

Overcoming Year-End Challenges for Job Seekers

• Perceived Slow Down: Many candidates believe they have to pause their job search towards the end of the year under the assumption that "companies aren't hiring." However, that's not always the case, as mentioned earlier. While some companies may slow their hiring processes, there are still organizations actively hiring. Don't stop your job search! There’s less competition for these jobs at the end of year, which means you have a higher chances of landing the role. In the new year there will be more jobs available, but it will also be flooded with more people looking for a change. Additionally, many hiring managers have a year-end budget to fulfill, resulting in increased hiring opportunities for you!

• Wanting Your Bonus: If you’re currently employed, end-of-year bonuses can be an incentive to stay at your job. Job seekers often want to postpone their job search until they receive their year-end bonus. However, bonuses granted in December or January may not hit your bank account until February or even March next year. If you're in this situation, be cautious about starting the interviewing process, as the new company will likely prefer a candidate who can start sooner. Evaluate if you're willing to forgo the bonus for the right job. Inquire about start dates to ensure alignment, or the company may proceed with another candidate. If the opportunity aligns with your long-term career goals, consider passing on that one-time bonus payment for long-term value, if your personal situation allows you to.

Solutions:

• Be Open: Maintain flexibility throughout the process and communicate openly with the hiring manager from the start.

• Ask Questions: Seek to understand the hiring manager’s expectation around start date during the interview process to avoid any misalignments.

• Think of Your Overall Career Trajectory: It's crucial to consider your long-term career aspirations and view short-term incentives as just that – temporary rewards.

• Keep Searching: Whatever you do, don't pause your job search during the holiday season. Keep your job search active!

• Keep Your Head Up: While job searches can be taxing, both emotionally and physically, remember to take necessary breaks without completely disengaging from the process.

• Decreased Competition: By optimizing your search strategy and staying active during the busiest time of the year, you'll enhance your chances of finding the right opportunity in a new industry like climate, even amidst the holiday chaos.

Enduring the year-end job market hurdles can be a daunting task for both hiring managers and job seekers. However, with strategic planning, open communication, and perseverance, these challenges can be turned into opportunities. For hiring managers, filling positions before the year ends can give a competitive edge, while job seekers can capitalize on the reduced competition during this period. It's essential to keep in mind that the job market doesn't freeze during the holidays. So, whether you're a job seeker or a hiring manager, don't let the end of the year slow you down. Instead, use this time to your advantage, and you may find yourself starting the New Year on a high note.

2023 Climate Job Seeker Playbook Release Party Round 2!

Earlier this week we launched our 30-page climate job seeker playbook! Our in-depth guide is a one-stop-shop for any job seeker looking to transition their career to climate!

We cover:

🌱 Building a solid job search foundation
🌱 Optimal resume and LinkedIn optimization techniques
🌱 Effective networking strategies
🌱 Unveiling the hidden job market
🌱 Mastering the art of interviews
🌱 And much more!

Did you miss our launch webinar? We’re hosting round 2 this upcoming Tuesday 11/7 at 12 pm EST! Register to delve deep into the playbook, meet job seekers in breakout rooms, and get your questions answered.

→ We’re bring on confidence and life coach Katharina Hellman on for a session on becoming more confident in your job search on 11/13 at 12 pm EST. Register here!

→ Join Climate People on 11/9 at 12 pm EST for “Impactful Interactions: A Networking Workshop” event with Laurie McGinley. Even if you loath networking, you'll walk away feeling better about it with tools to tap into the opportunities that effective networking brings into your life. Register for the event here, you won’t want to miss it!

→ Missed last week’s edition? It was a jam-packed one! Check it out here.

→ Sign up for November’s “Breaking into Climate” session if you haven’t attended one yet! We go over the climate basics and help you set your job search up for success.

→ Our partner, Kat Jellicorse, provides personalized climate career coaching tailored specifically to your needs! One of our candidates had been searching for a job for a year. After just two weeks of collaboration with Kat, she landed not one, but two interviews! We highly recommend checking out her exceptional services through the following link. Kat recently conducted an insightful Resume Workshop in collaboration with Climate People. You can find the session through this link!

→ Project drawdown outlined the top ways for individuals to take climate actions! Here’s the breakdown.

→ A new analysis finds 400,000-plus jobs will be created from the 210 EV, battery and clean energy projects launched since Inflation Reduction Act was passed. Read the Canary Media article that outlines the impact.

→ Looking to hire senior technical talent at your climate start up? The Enduring Planet team had Climate People’s founder, Brendan, on to talk through some strategies for hiring top talent! Check out the blog post here!

→‍ Climate People and MCJ Collective have teamed up to host monthly “Climate Career Advancement” meetups! On November 8th, we’re having the One Point Five team on to talk about future-proofing you career. Register here!

CLEAN HYDROGEN

Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced the selection of seven "Clean Hydrogen Hubs," made possible by the Biden administration's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

These hubs, set to produce three million metric tons of hydrogen annually, are projected to reduce 25 million metric tons of CO2 emissions each year, equivalent to the combined annual emissions of 5.5 million gas-powered cars.

For this week's #1MinuteClimateSnippet, we're diving into the world of clean hydrogen, how it differs from traditional sources, and the impact it could make on our clean-energy future.

🪴 HEAD OF PRODUCT
➵ Join the climate solution revolution and make a tangible impact on our planet's future! Our client, a trailblazing global technology and climate impact organization, is on the hunt for an innovative Head of Product. This role is at the heart of their mission to transform how environmental data is utilized, offering an unmatched opportunity to lead product development for their groundbreaking climate data software. You'll be at the helm of shaping product strategies, ensuring customer satisfaction, managing quality control, and driving iterative processes.

🪴 HEAD OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
➵ Are you ready to make a significant impact on the global climate crisis? Our client, a pioneering global technology and climate impact organization, is currently seeking a highly skilled and passionate individual to join their team as the Head of Business Development. This leadership role offers an unparalleled opportunity to shape business development strategies, manage global sales processes, and contribute to revenue generation in alignment with the company's strategic goals. Preferred candidates will have prior experience in at least one of the core segments: Financial Services, Carbon Project Market, Corporates with Supply Chain/ Land holdings, Carbon portfolios.

🪴 SENIOR GRANT MANAGER
➵ Join a dynamic advisory firm that has secured over $1.7B in government funding, focusing on industrial decarbonization and clean energy programs. We're seeking a Senior Grant Manager who can lead the process of content creation. You'll manage the entire grant writing and submission process, develop impactful white papers, and strategize on how clients can address key policy goals. If you have a knack for crafting compelling narratives, a track record of successful grant proposals, and at least 4 years of experience in federal government grant or technical-policy writing, this is the opportunity for you. A degree in a hard-science or engineering domain is required.

🪴 SENIOR PROCESS MODELING AND OPTIMIZATION ENGINEER
➵ Our client, a pioneering startup in the cultivated meats industry, is seeking a Process Modeling and Optimization Engineer to join their dynamic team. This role involves creating robust data pipelines, developing reliable control algorithms, and optimizing cell culture processes. The ideal candidate will have an MS or Ph.D. in a relevant field, experience in numerical simulation of dynamic systems, and expertise in statistical modeling. This is a fantastic opportunity for a self-motivated individual with a strong entrepreneurial spirit to work in a fast-paced, creative environment and play a pivotal role in the commercialization of next-generation bioreactors.

🪴 LEAD GRANTS MANAGER
➵ Join an innovative global consultancy that's making a difference by helping companies secure large-scale grant funding for impactful climate solutions. As Lead Grants Manager, you'll leverage your expertise in grant writing and management to develop and scale high-impact projects. This role involves proactive collaboration with clients to refine project strategies, enhancing funding opportunities. You'll also coordinate with senior staff to bring forth top-quality proposals. Ideal candidates have at least 5 years of experience in a similar role, hold a BS in a scientific/technical field (advanced degrees preferred), and possess a strong understanding of the urgency to address climate change.

That's all for this edition! Stay tuned for next month's roundup. Thanks for doing your part in mobilizing a workforce transition to work on climate!