Throughout the year, competition for jobs rises and falls at very specific points, which can color your job search a great deal. Here are the major job search seasons and how to make the most of them.

The notion of timing in a job search depends on a lot of complex, interdependent factors. That said, there are certain patterns that cross most industries and professions. Here are the prime job search seasons.

Spring: Go time for grads
When college students enter their final semester, the intensity of their job search efforts naturally gets cranked up. Of course, the more forward-thinking ones have been in job search mode since the previous August or September, perhaps even earlier. But it’s not until the following winter and early spring months that whole graduating herd has joined the hunt and is really hitting it hard. And don’t think just because you’re beyond entry level jobs that you’re immune from the increased competition – there are also grad students in that pack.

Summer: The illusion of downtime
Many people take vacations in the summer, and those who don’t just assume that hiring managers won’t be around to read resumes. What’s more, employers know that job seekers feel this way, so they advertise fewer positions. But just like any other time of the year, new positions are created, existing ones are vacated, and promotions are given. Take advantage of the decreased competition to get in on these positions, while your hiatus-minded rivals wait the season out.

Autumn: Pre-holiday rush
After the summer is over, those who were vacationing or waiting out the summer have a lot of pent-up energy. But they know they only have a few months before the holidays start crowding everybody’s thoughts. So this is one of the busiest job-hunting seasons of the year – a real gold-rush frenzy as people hurry to get things happening before November.

New Year: High-energy renewal time
As is summertime, the holiday season is a shut-down season for job hunters. Most people assume nobody will even be in the office to return a phone call, much less do an interview. So once New Years Day passes, there’s another surge of pent up energy. Further stoking this particular job search season is the age-old tendency to make vows and seek to change one’s life at the very beginning of the calendar year. And looking for a job is the perfect life changer for a lot of people. This season often merges with the college-grad job hunt season to make it often the busiest of all.

Anytime: It’s always right to look for a job
Finally, while certain seasons cast a certain flavor on your job hunt, anytime is the right point to start a well-thought-out job search. For instance, there are fewer jobs advertised during the summer. But there’s also far less competition for the ones that are. Likewise for the holiday season. Do what you need to do and give it all you’ve got. The competition will take care of itself.