Job seekers should be prepared to beat off the competition today as researchers reveal Monday 7 January is the busiest day in the year to search for a new job.

This is according to a survey by www.jobsite.co.uk, which reveals that a staggering 42 per cent of people are planning to hunt for work this month with the majority kick-starting the search on 7 January.

The second most popular day is 31 January, when most people receive their first pay cheque of 2008. In further bad news for employers, 61 per cent of jobseekers plan to spend more than two hours a day looking for the perfect post, whilst 41 per cent of employees will be searching for vacancies when they should be working.

Just under half of respondents in the survey will be tracking down a new role online with a further 22 per cent looking through adverts in the papers, whilst one in 10 will only apply for a job if they hear about it from friends or family.

Keith Potts, chief executive officer of www.jobsite.co.uk, said: “The new year is often seen as a good time to make changes and start afresh. With time off over Christmas to reflect on your current job situation, it’s perhaps unsurprising that the first Monday back in the office – which this year is 7 January – sends most people looking for something more fulfilling.”

Almost half of the 1,500 respondents quizzed used the Christmas break to think about their career, with 62 per cent believing the new year is the best time to make a fresh start. Most admit that money is the key driver, but 51 per cent cite a need for greater job satisfaction with more than one in 10 saying they are unhappy in their current job.