Job searching during summer gives you an advantage
Q: The summer is like one big holiday where hiring is a hit or miss until after Labor Day. I have applied for jobs over the last few weeks and have had no response. I met a friend for lunch last week who suggested that I hold off on a search until summer is over. What should I do?
A: Job searching during the summer can often feel like the holidays, with key people taking time off. It can be tempting to put your search on hold due to the lack of response, but it can be a mistake.
While it is true that vacations can delay meetings with hiring decision-makers during the summer, there might be other factors at play to consider, such as your job search skills and your ability to build connections with others.
Some people take a hiatus waiting for activity to pick up after Labor Day. In contrast, others make the most of summer events like barbecuing, July Fourth family gatherings, and outdoor activities that bring people back together again.
Job searching in the summer can be to your advantage rather than a liability. It can be easy to fall into a mindset of using networking only when forced to under new circumstances — such as a job search. Trying to talk with people often gets typecast into something that is not part of your daily routine, leading to awkwardness.
While some may be more comfortable at networking than others, it is not because they possess an exceptional talent you lack. Instead, it is because they have practiced their conversational skills.
Informal conversations turn into opportunities when you are out having fun and enjoying the moment. Sometimes the best job leads are discovered when the farthest thing from your mind is conducting a search.
Whenever groups of people gather, you have an opportunity to learn and get information. The difference between getting out among people versus searching from home online is that you are face to face with possible referrals and hiring decision-makers.
The opportunity for you to continue building rapport long after the summer is over is much greater than waiting for replies.
When your goal is to meet people instead of searching for a job, you suddenly start tapping into the largest job market — the one not advertised. The truth is, employers are always hiring good candidates through the summer and during the holidays.
The point is that when you meet people, they could be influencers and help you broaden your network of contacts. You could make 10 times more progress during the summer than waiting for responses to come to you.
Avoid buying into “the decision-makers are gone during the summer.” Instead, be flexible and willing to meet people in a nontraditional-job-search way.