“Conventional wisdom” says that hiring slows down in the summer and during holiday periods.
Why? Vacations and long weekends can cause hiring to stall because critical decision-makers are out of the office. At the same time, remaining staff can be overloaded with higher priorities.
But don’t let your job search cool down! Keep things moving at a hot pace—and prove that conventional wisdom wrong. These tips will help.
Understand Timelines and Processes
At the conclusion of every meeting and every interview, reiterate your understanding of when the next steps will take place. For example:
- Networking Meeting: “So, John, I’ll look for your email next week with your contacts at XYZ Corp. If I don’t hear from you by Friday, shall I give you a nudge?”
- Interview: “My understanding, then, is that you hope to complete the first round of interviews by the 15th. I’m very interested in the position and certainly hope to have the opportunity to speak with the rest of the interview team. May I contact you on the 16th if I haven’t heard anything?”
- Recruiter Contact: “I understand that your meeting with the hiring company is on Monday and that you’ll be presenting your slate of candidates. Should I call you on Tuesday to discuss the next steps?”
By using this approach, you’ll appear organized and professional and you’ll avoid the dilemma of when and how often you should follow up
Keep the Heat On Where You Can
Can’t get meetings with (vacationing) hiring authorities? There’s still lots you can do:
- Identify target companies
- Do company and industry research
- Work on your interview stories
- Polish your resume and LinkedIn profile
- Enrich your online image
- Master a new skill or technology
- Write and publish a white paper or authoritative book review
- Update your references
- Organize your network contacts …
And much more!
Strike While the Weather is Hot
Sure, some people are on vacation, but everyone is not. As you uncover leads and opportunities, act quickly. Suggest an immediate meeting, respond quickly to all calls and emails, and position yourself as the solution to a business problem. Sometimes simply being available will give you an advantage over other candidates.
Enjoy the Summer!
Yes, your job search is important, but so is your family and your overall health and well-being. Those of us who live in cold climates must cherish our amazing but short summers! Don’t become so stressed during your job search that you can’t enjoy activities with friends and family. Get outside, have fun, and be refreshed.
Sage advice from Louise Kursmark … as always! My executive resume clients follow the same “rules of the road” and find great success, not matter the time of year. Thanks for sharing, Louise!