At the 'golden time' to change jobs after Tet, the job market is bustling

There are many reasons why the HR industry considers the months after Tet, January and February, as the "golden time," the most ideal time to change jobs, from market demand at the beginning of the year, companies restructuring their operations, employees having just received their 13th-month salary, etc.

January and February are always considered the "golden time" for changing jobs. (In the photo: Students seeking jobs at the job fair of Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology - Illustration: CONG TRIEU)

At this time, job postings and job seekers are appearing frequently all over the internet and major job forums in the country, which is also evidence that many people had changed jobs before.

Received 13th-month salary and then switched jobs.

Connecting through an online job forum with nearly 1 million members, Ms. Thuy (31 years old, residing in Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City) stated that she is looking for a new job. She introduced herself as having many years of experience in real estate sales, possessing a large client base, and having financial resources…

She recounted that after receiving her 13th-month salary, "along with a lot of complaints about difficulties from her boss," she felt uncertain about her career and decided to quit. "The real estate market is tough right now, so I want to try a new job, I'm ready for any industry," Thuy said.

Hoang Hai (a communications specialist) said he had just received his 13th-month salary and resigned before Tet (Lunar New Year). To avoid being idle during his leave and Tet holiday, Hai took on freelance projects part-time. "I also want to move to Ho Chi Minh City because I'm so bored in my hometown (Binh Dinh), but I haven't found anything since Tet," Hoang Hai said.

It's not just those with simple jobs or manual laborers; many mid-level and senior staff are also joining the wave of job hopping before and after Tet (Lunar New Year).

Before the Lunar New Year of the Year of the Snake, Ms. G. was still working as the purchasing director for a retail chain in Ho Chi Minh City. Immediately after the holiday, she announced that she had resigned from her old company, "thanks to friends' help in finding a new job where there was demand."

She said she had only been in the purchasing director position for a little over 8 months. Although the job was stable and the salary was quite high, she decided to "quit early" because she hadn't seen any significant growth in the company.

The number of job seekers and job openings always increases in January and February every year - Photo: CONG TRIEU

Why do so many people look for new jobs after the Lunar New Year?

Speaking to Tuoi Tre Online , Thu Trang, who works at a human resources search and solutions company in Ho Chi Minh City, said that January and February each year are always considered the ideal "golden time" to change jobs.

The reason is that after the Lunar New Year, businesses will begin to restructure their administrative systems, leading to increased recruitment needs. At the same time, many workers also want to change jobs or professions after a long year.

The trend of job hopping becomes even more pronounced after companies have finished paying out the 13th-month salary. With many people leaving their jobs, there are also many vacant positions, forcing the need for additional recruitment, which is why the job market is always vibrant at the beginning of the year.

"As expected, many people quit their jobs and look for new ones after receiving their 13th-month salary. There are many reasons. Some are bored with their current job or environment, seeking a new place, or even simply want a longer Tet holiday," Trang said.

Is it a good idea to change jobs outside of the "golden period" of January and February?

- March, April, and May: It's never too late to change jobs.

While not the "golden time" to change jobs, March, April, and May are considered by HR professionals to be a not-too-late period for those wishing to do so. Due to the extended Lunar New Year holiday, it's difficult for both companies and candidates to find each other within the first two months of the year. Therefore, opportunities and vacant positions are still expected to exist during these months.

- June, July, and August: Avoid changing jobs.

The summer months are often considered a slow season for the recruitment industry, partly because previously vacant positions have already been filled.

- September - October: If you're thinking about it, change jobs.

September and October are not considered the prime time for job hopping. However, they are still regarded as good times to do so because, towards the end of the year, businesses need to increase their workforce to prepare for the year-end shopping season and meet annual KPIs.

- November - December: "Don't be foolish" to change jobs

Towards the end of the year and the Lunar New Year, almost all businesses want to focus all their efforts on production and business operations, so recruitment is often neglected. The habit of only setting recruitment budgets and targets at the beginning of the year is also a reason. Furthermore, the 13th-month salary discourages most employees from changing jobs at this time, resulting in very few vacant positions.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/vao-thoi-diem-vang-nhay-viec-sau-tet-thi-truong-viec-lam-soi-suc-20250206182832938.htm