June 21st brought us the Summer Solstice, where in the Northern Hemisphere, we experienced the longest day and the shortest night of the year. It also officially marks the beginning of summer.
Okay, so the long-awaited lazy days of summer are here. And it’s wonderful! However, it can spell D-A-N-G-E-R! In my practice, I often hear clients mutter sentiments like, “Oh, why bother going full tilt in my job search now? No one is hiring; everyone’s on vacation or they’re thinking about heading to the golf course or lying by the pool.” Is this the attitude that will serve you well? No! Wrong! Yikes!
Yes, the summer months tend to slow down a bit for many. Don’t get caught up in this way of thinking as a rationalization for taking time off from what should be your full-time job if you’re unemployed (and at least 10 hours a week if you’re employed).
First, people do hire in the summer. Stay focused; and take advantage of this time! It’s likely that much of your competition has just the very mentality mentioned above. This gives you an edge if you’re on top of things and out there! Continue to search for opportunities; network with colleagues, acquaintances and contacts. Your due diligence can’t possibly hurt! You may get more interviews than at other times of the year.
In fact, according to many hiring managers and recruiters, the summer is actually one of the best times to look for work. In addition to many job seekers taking that time off (again; big mistake), there is an increase in demand for contract workers to cover vacationing workers. This is a good way to get your foot in the door for a potential full-time opportunity down the road.
Secondly, you’re ahead of the race. When Labor Day comes around (and your competition is thinking about getting back into the groove), guess who is already out there in full force? Guess who’s been networking, setting up interviews, beefing up marketing documents? Yes, indeed; YOU!
Now, I’m not telling you that you should not have some summer fun a vacation if that’s what suits you. The trick is to plan to work your job search and to work your plan! Pace yourself.
Here are some tips to maximize your job search success this summer and still have fun:
- Rise early. With sunrise so early and mornings cooler than afternoons, help yourself to get up earlier. Let the sun shine through your blinds, set an extra alarm, ask someone to wake you up. It’s a quiet time of day perfect for doing your internet research, setting your goals and planning your to-do list. It can also be a great time to take a walk, run, listen to birds, have that cup of coffee on the porch, or do whatever energizes you to start your day off right.
- Make a plan and schedule. Plan to set a schedule for yourself and stick to it. Decide how many hours each day you will devote to the search, whether two or 10 hours. Build your “life” into it. If you want to go to for a boat ride that evening or work in your flower garden, great! By having a schedule “start” and “quit” time, you can be productive in your job search activities without sacrificing your own summer enjoyment.
- Take advantage of networking opportunities. You will no doubt be outside or headed to new places at this time of the year. Be aware of making contacts wherever and whenever possible. You may be sitting by the city pool and meet someone you haven’t seen for ages. That’s a new contact!
- Maximize working in the evening. Maybe you simply aren’t a morning person. There are advantages to working your job search in the coolness of summer evenings. You will probably have to make compromises. Phone calls and contacts are best handled during the day. However, you can switch your planning, research, résumé tweaking and applications to the evening.
And give yourself permission to enjoy an outing or event that takes you away from your usual job search schedule in the summer. Just don’t let it be the norm. Your goal is to be productive, guilt free and free of resentment! This is about balance. Work and play! You’ll be happy with the results!
