Patty Coffey is a Partner in the Information Technology Permanent division at at Winter, Wyman, the largest and one of the most recognized staffing organizations in the Northeast. Find out more on the Winter, Wyman blog or follow @WinterWyman on Twitter.
It's summertime — those carefree months when you put your sandal-clad feet up and sip a glass of lemonade in front of the ballgame. And it is certainly time to abandon that job search for a few months, right?
Wrong.
The perception that companies cut back on — or even stop — hiring in the summer is a myth. In fact, companies are filling positions at the same, if not an increased, pace during the hottest months of the year.
Conducting a job search during the summer can be tricky though, and it is important to avoid the biggest hazards for job seekers during the summertime: timing and schedules. Because of vacations — your own as well as employees of the companies with which you wish to interview — trying to schedule interviews can be complicated. An interview process that would typically take three weeks may take five or even longer.
As a result, patience is key for summer job seeking. Candidates shouldn't feel discouraged if the interview process takes extra time, and those who can withstand a longer process may just find that perfect job.
Summertime is actually an opportune time to start or continue a job search. Here are eight great reasons why you should keep hunting when the mercury rises.
1. Summer Is a Slower Season (for Some Industries)
Employees of many companies may actually have more time to interview candidates in the summer because it isn't a busy time for their organization. For example, accounting firms are busiest in the winter and early spring, so summer is a great time for these firms to build and train their staff. Vacations aside, it's a free period for some key employers.
2. Jobs Do Exist
Companies still need to hire, even when it is 95 degrees outside. If you stop your job search, you could miss out on some great opportunities. Plus, you could face less competition if other job seekers are buying into the summer slowdown myth. So, take advantage of the season and trust in the jobs pool.
3. Contract-to-Hire Positions are Abundant
Many organizations will hire contract employees during the summer months to fill long leaves of absence, such as extended vacations and sabbaticals. These positions could turn into permanent employment if the timing is right.
4. Unexpected Networking Opportunities
Summer is a social season, so job seekers can take advantage of golf outings, barbecues and neighborhood get-togethers to network with other professionals. Your greatest connection may be at next week's block party, so stay active in community events.
5. A Possibly Shorter Interview Process
While summer vacation schedules can prolong the interview process, they can also expedite it. If the schedules of all involved align, companies can speed up interviews (to even just one day!) to avoid the complexity of scheduling multiple meetings.
6. Summer Is an Easier Transition Period
Summertime is typically a less hectic time to transition to a new job. Prospects can get acquainted with the company when less people are in the office and things are slower. It can also be less traumatic for families if a move is involved, since children wouldn't have to switch schools mid-year.
7. It's Easy to Sneak Out
Many companies have a more lax schedule in July and August — some close early on Fridays, while others have more unofficial long weekends. Bosses are often on vacation or may take a long lunch, so employees can slip away unnoticed. Vacation days are also more accepted — your boss won't think it is odd if you take a vacation day or two in August. In fact, you could even consider taking a "job search vacation" where you conduct a week-long blitz of intense searching and interviewing.
8. It's High Energy
The days are longer, flowers are in bloom — summer is a buzzing season with a lot of vivacity. Serious job hunters should capitalize on both the energy of the season and myth of the summer slowdown by beginning or continuing their search. Jobs are certainly there, waiting for tenacious job hunters to beat the heat and find them.
Have you successfully landed a job in the summer? Tell us about it in the comments.
Social Media Job Listings
Every week we post a list of social media and web job opportunities. While we publish a huge range of job listings, we've selected some of the top social media job opportunities from the past two weeks to get you started. Happy hunting!
- Director of Technology at Denihan Hospitality Group in New York City
- Project Manager – Web at Romney for President in Boston
- San Diego General Manager at Uber in San Diego
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