Feeling the Heat 5 Reasons a Summer Job Search Is Worth It

Feeling the Heat 5 Reasons a Summer Job Search Is Worth It Feeling the Heat 5 Reasons a Summer Job Search Is Worth It Ahh, summer. It’s a time for long, lazy days at the beach, sipping colorful drinks, and just relaxing. That is, unless you’re  in a summer job search.   There’s a myth that pervades the job market that companies simply don’t hire during the summer. As such, many job seekers slow down (or worse, stop) their searches and resume them come fall. But job searching in the summer can be just as good- and sometimes better- than searching during any other time of the year. Here are five reasons why a summer job search is worth it: 1. There’s less competition. Remember what we said about some people falsely believing that there are no job opportunities during the dog days of summer? Well, there are, and if job hunters are not applying for positions, that means there’s less competition for you, according to the US News article, “5 Reasons to Keep Your Job Hunt Alive in the Summer.” It can be difficult to job search while your friends are enjoying summer vacations, but taking advantage of the timing of your job search- and capitalizing on the fact that fewer job seekers are applying for jobs- means you have a greater chance of getting the job you want. 2. It can be easier to get informational interviews. During the summer, things naturally tend to slow down. Employees take vacations, summer Fridays come into effect- people are just more relaxed. That’s what makes it a great time to score some informational interviews. While some people might moan at the idea of having to go in for an informational interview (and not a regular job interview), there’s no denying the many benefits of them. Not only do you get a glimpse of the inner workings of a company, but they are a great way to make new connections, possibly meet your next mentor, and also get your foot in the door should a job opportunity that matches your skill set come up in the future. So target a few companies that you’d like to work for and reach out to the person whom you’d like to make a connection with. You’re much more likely to get a yes to an informational interview during the summer than during the fall, when things can become much busier. 3. It gives you perspective. You’ve been job hunting for so long for one specific type of job that you feel you’re on job hunting autopilot. Take some time between writing cover letters to really assess your situation. Are you searching for a job that you really want, or are you continuing on in a career path that you outgrew two jobs ago? Figure out what type of job would make you happy (along with the type of workplace flexibility you need) and then tailor your search to meet those needs. Chances are, your job searching success will improve dramatically. 4. You can improve your technique. Like anything else, a job search is a skill that you learn on the job- no pun intended. But like any skill, there are always ways to perfect it and make it better. Go over the various parts of your job search and see what needs a little improvement. (You probably know where your strengths- and weaknesses- are.) Maybe your resume is a little tired and needs a redesign. Or perhaps you tend to apply for positions that are slightly beyond your skill set- but you hope the hiring manager won’t notice. See where you can make some modifications and do so. It might mean hiring a resume writer, or going back to school to get some much-needed certifications. But remember that everything you do towards finding a great flexible job is an investment in yourself, and well worth the effort. 5. Networking can be less stressful. Let’s face it: not many people really love networking. But as a job seeker, networking can really help you make the connections that will open doors to a new job. Thing is, you don’t have to don your interview/informational interview/networking suit and hit the circuit to find new contacts. Think outside the box and take advantage of the summer months to grow your network. Since you’ll most likely be outside more during the summer, get chummy with the parents at your kids’ swim meets, the neighbors during the annual summer block party, or even frequent some of the local hotspots in your area to find new friends- and find out what they do. When you think about it, a summer job search  simply makes a whole lot of sense. So resist the urge to halt your search and ramp it up instead. You never know; you might start a brand-new job (as opposed to starting your job search all over again) come September. Readers, are you guilty of slowing down your summer job search, or do you keep searching? Let us know in the comments below!