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The times and days of the week you should apply for a job to boost your chances of getting hired, according to 3 recruitment experts

Amanda Augustine TopResume
Amanda Augustine, career expert for TopResume. TopResume

  • The COVID-19 pandemic has hammered the economy and cost many people their jobs. As a result, job applications have risen while vacancies have dropped.
  • The number of job ads is rising as countries leave lockdown, but the job market is still more competitive than ever, and applicants are looking for any possible advantage to boost their chances of getting hired.
  • A new study shows 11 a.m. is the most popular time to apply for a job, and that Monday is the busiest day of the week for applications.
  • Business Insider spoke to recruiters and career experts to find out when exactly you should apply for a job to maximise your chances, and the times to avoid.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
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The COVID-19 pandemic has cost many people their jobs, and as a result, job applications have risen. Unfortunately, the number of vacancies has fallen: Data provided exclusively to Business Insider from LinkedIn shows there are currently three times as many people applying for each job opening than at this time last year.

The good news is that, as countries leave lockdown, the number of job ads is rising. For example, on July 27 the Association of Professional Staffing Companies, the UK trade association for the recruitment sector, reported that vacancies rose 14% between April and June in London. 

But despite this rise, the job market is still more competitive than ever, and applicants need to do everything they can to stand out. One possible way to do this is to change the time of day, and the day of the week, that you're applying. A July study from job board CV-Library showed that 11 a.m. is the most popular time to apply for a job, and that Monday is the busiest day for applications. More than 66% of 1,700 UK professionals said they are more likely to apply and search for jobs on weekdays than weekends. 

Prompted by this research, Business Insider spoke to three recruitment and business experts to find out when exactly you should apply for a job to give yourself the best chance of landing your dream role. 

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Set up alerts so you can applying within 10 minutes of an ad going live

More than half of all applications arrive in the first three days of the working week, according to data provided by LinkedIn. The most important thing, according to LinkedIn careers expert Charlotte Davies, is how quick on the draw you are. "Applying within the first 10 minutes of a job being posted can increase your chances of hearing back by up to four times," she said.

To be one of the first, Davies suggested setting up job alerts so you get notifications for roles you might be interested in. You can set up notifications on LinkedIn as well as other job sites. Certain companies will also send alerts when new jobs arrive: Check the jobs page of the companies you want to work for, and register your email.

Apply on a Tuesday, between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m.

Lynn Taylor, a workplace expert, author and CEO of accessory brand Behind the Buckle, said the time of day, and day of week you apply on, matters: "You want to stand out from the crowd in the hiring manager's email barrage," she said.

"The best policy is to apply on Tuesdays between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m.. Mondays are notoriously bad for everyone and Tuesday demonstrates that you're still very interested — early in the week." Applying earlier in the morning means you're competing with fewer candidates, and it demonstrates your enthusiasm for the job.  "The early bird gets the worm does apply here," she said.

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Don't apply over the weekend just because you want the application off your plate — wait for the right window.

Amanda Augustine, career expert for TopResume, agreed that you should avoid weekend applications. She said applying early in the day, and as soon as the job goes live, is your best bet. "If you find a listing for a role that you're qualified to perform and interested in pursuing, make time to tailor your job application right away."

Focus on your CV and cover letter

However, Augustine stressed that customizing your cover letter and résumé was more important than the timing of your application.

"I don't suggest spending effort trying to submit your application when you believe there will be less competition; instead, proceed as though your application will be up against tough — and plentiful — competition and focus on customizing your cover letter and résumé for the job listing," she said.

Tips Strategy COVID-19
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