Depending on the field, just like everything else, there is a good and a bad time to look for a job. While some jobs are good for hiring year round, other jobs are dependent upon many extenuating circumstances.

Fast food and restaurants – Consumers are always eating, so logically any time should be a good time to find a job. However, March through May is generally the worse time to look for a job at your local restaurant. Why? Millions of students flood the job market looking for summer jobs. Cheap labor is a favorite of local eateries.

Retail and grocery stores – Like fast food restaurants, retail stores are prime targets for students looking for a quick summer job. Even though March through May can be a bad time, remember that most students start heading back to school about mid-summer so vacancies will start to open up again.

Looking for a job in December? True, Thanksgiving through New Years are full of office parties and vacations, so it’s hard to reach hiring managers. The trick is, however, not to totally stop applying during those months. There are some companies that continue to hire, so you will have much less competition. Searching for a job during the holidays is not a complete waste of time.

Government agencies – The trick with government agencies is learning the budget cycle. Many government agencies will institute a hiring slow down when it's time to prepare the budget for the upcoming fiscal year. They review their current vacancies to determine which positions have been open for longer periods of time and where cuts can be made. Here again, it’s important to not completely stop your job search during this time, but realize it may take a bit longer.

Seasonal hires – Sure, most of the holiday hiring is temporary, but this is a prime time for employers to find that new “talent”. If you work out well as a seasonal employee, you may find yourself being invited to remain as a permanent staff member once the season is over. Don’t forget that “seasonal” is not just about the Christmas season, it also includes summer hires as well.

If you live in a college town, consider the entire school season as a challenging time when it comes to hiring. College students leave summer jobs and head back to their college towns to find a job for the school year.

A good rule of thumb is to look check out the “hiring season” for your field, but make sure you apply for jobs both in and outside of those prime times.