Dividends are usually paid quarterly, but can also be paid monthly or annually. There may also be a surprise dividend if the company has a better than expected quarter, which then leads to a higher sense of confidence that company can continue growing at a healthy pace. It may not be necessary to find dividend paying stocks as there are plenty of well performing companies that do not issue dividends. Be sure to look at your current investing strategy to see if dividends will benefit your current situation and if you still have questions, consult an investing professional and they can help to point you in the right direction.