It’s easy to scale back on your job search once summer hits: neighborhood cookouts, trips to the beach, kids’ ball games and long vacations. Who has time to apply to jobs?!
However, the reality is that hiring does not stop come summer. Here are three tips to managing a successful job search and still enjoying the best of summer!
1. Time your job search to summer trends.
- Expect delays. The interview and hiring processes slow down in summer due to clients being on vacation and mid-fiscal year budget reviews.
- Follow up consistently but give a few extra days for folks to return (and catch up!) from their time off.
- The average full time job search takes 4-8 weeks.
- If you see a good job today that interests you, apply today! Don’t assume it will still be there (or that a similar one will be posted) later in the summer when you are ready.
- Apply to jobs earlier in the work week when recruiters and managers are more likely to be working and engaged in reading resumes.
- If your job search is urgent, expand your search by the job titles, commute and pay rate you would consider to increase your interview chances.
2. Leverage summer flexibility.
- If your company allows for summer Fridays or remote work one day a week, use the extra time to schedule an informational interview at a company that interests you or job search while lounging on your deck.
- Set a goal for yourself such as 2 networking meetings or 1 interview/week until you land that perfect job!
- A vacation doesn’t mean your job search needs to go on hold. Communicate to your recruiters if you can check email/text to review new jobs they send you or if you could do a phone interview if a client is interested in you.
3. Stay ‘on the go’ with technology!
- Most job boards and companies now have an easy 1-3 step application process you can complete right from your phone or tablet.
- Store an electronic copy of your resume in Dropbox or the website of your online portfolio so you can apply virtually anywhere.
- Set up automated job search alerts from your preferred consulting firms, companies or job board such as Indeed.com so you can stay up to date on who is hiring while you are away.
Your job search doesn’t have to stop during the summer. Be patient with delays in the hiring process, leverage your own schedule flexibility and use technology to keep your job search in motion while still enjoying your summer plans!