AARP Hearing Center
Rob Dobi
The fall is one of the best times to get a new job, as vacation season ends and back-to-school season starts. Businesses are also eager to hire to help them meet year-end goals and get a head start on the new year.
It’s an annual phenomenon that’s known as the “September Surge” in human resources circles.
“ ‘Back-to-school’ is a very typical behavior pattern that impacts corporate as much as it does academic in that sense of, 'Hey, we’re getting back, and we’re buckling down to prepare for more work, better work,' ” says Marc Cenedella, founder of The Ladders, a job-search platform. “Increased hiring activity happens every September.”
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Firing up a fall job search
Autumn can be an ideal time to find a new job, but it’s important to start applying and networking early.
“The way to get a running start is to start before everybody else is running,” Cenedella says. “Lots of your competition is at the beach in August, so if you’re out there and active, HR folks, hiring managers, recruiters that are active in August … you can catch a lot more of their attention.”
Here are some pro tips for getting that head start.
Update your résumé: Make sure your résumé includes your most recent roles and achievements. In particular, highlight skills you’ve developed that fit the job you’re applying for.
Compare each job listing with your résumé to see that you are describing skills and experience with the exact same words that appear in the posting. That's essential for helping your application advance beyond the software employers use to filter through the dozens, if not hundreds, of applications they receive.
You’ll also want to take steps to "age-proof" your résumé.
“I advise removing the graduation dates,” Cenedella says. For jobs you’ve held “within 15 years, it’s fine to put the dates, but before that, just leave the dates off the résumé. You’re not really getting hired for something that long ago anyway, so you don’t need to have the dates there.”
Research and network: After updating your résumé, take some time to also update your LinkedIn profile. While you’re on that platform, review your contacts, keeping an eye on where they are working now or previously. A quick message asking for a video chat to catch up can be an effective way to find job openings that are available now or soon.
In addition, HR managers are more likely to consider applicants who are referred to them by a colleague. A September 2024 study by Employ, a company that provides recruitment software products for businesses, found that 35 percent of hiring managers named referrals as the most valuable source for a hire.
You can also use LinkedIn to research employers when you don’t have direct contact. Reading posts from current employees can help you get an idea of how a company operates and hires, and some people on the platform may even be willing to give you an informational interview.
Show you’re eager to grow: Age discrimination often hinders job opportunities for older workers, so it’s important to be proactive about countering any potential bias.
“Older folks have a reputation in the hiring market as being set in their ways, not willing to try new things, or difficult to get to adopt new practices,” Cenedella says. “That’s the stereotype. Not true, but that’s the stereotype.”
To combat it, “don’t try to behave like you’re 22. That doesn’t work,” he advises. “What you want to do is show that your mindset is not closed, but open. What that means is, talk about a new technology that you recently picked up, or talk about working with younger folks."
In your emails, cover letters and interviews, be prepared to discuss any new skills you’ve built or are developing to demonstrate that your value is still growing.
10 Jobs In Demand During the September Surge
While a variety of job opportunities will be available this fall, current job projections suggest that hiring for the following roles will be high. Clicking on the “Find jobs” link will take to a pre-filtered search of job postings on Indeed, which has teamed up with AARP to provide career services for older adults. All wage data is from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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