5 Tips For Your Job Search During The Summer

Summer is thought to be a time for leisure. Long days spent outside appreciating the weather, BBQs with friends, and family. However, it is imperative not to slack off on your job search, as tempting as it might be. Although hiring can decline in the summers for specific industries, there are still steps you can take to move your job search forward and get ahead of the competition.

Plan:
You can't have a successful job search without planning. Look at your summer schedule and add time for your job search activities. The summer months can be a busy time for most, but you must invest time into your search to be successful.

Network:
Summer is a perfect time to meet new people. With more people attending events and spending time outside, don’t ever leave home without your business cards. If you don’t have business cards, have some created. There are plenty of companies such as Vista Print that will give you a great deal. Don’t stress out about what to put on the business card, keep it simple and classy. Your name, field of expertise, email, phone number, and Linkedin URL will give someone everything people need to know. Remember to bring the cards with you everywhere! Keep some in your bag, car, even take them with you when going to family events. You never know when you will run into someone who can help you obtain your next opportunity.

Take a course:
Summer can be an excellent time for you to obtain or brush up on skills. Look at jobs on job boards and evaluate the job details. Are there any gaps in your skill set? If so, work to improve them. Also, some employers can be reluctant about hiring someone who has been unemployed for a while. Taking a class shows that you are motivated, like to stay busy, and want to improve. Many employment centers offer free classes, and community colleges offer short summer programs as well. See what they have to offer and then check out some wanted ads in your field.

Volunteer:
Nonprofits need help all around the country. You should consider volunteering to help keep your skills up-to-date, prevent gaps on your resume to a minimum and nonprofits achieve their missions. Look for volunteer opportunities to enhance your current skill set.

Understand hiring trends in your field:
Hiring slows down in July and picks back up towards the end of August, although this can vary depending on your industry. Understanding these hiring practices can not only help you know when to reach out to companies but also boost your self-esteem. Applying for jobs and not hearing back can make you feel like you are failing in your job search. Don’t let a lack of response during the summer months get you down and cause you to become unmotivated. Get out there and apply for the jobs you want. After all, if you don’t, you are guaranteed not to get the opportunity.  

Here are some extra tips:

• Create or update your LinkedIn profile
• Update your job search documents such as resume and cover letter
• Examine your presence online via Social Media and Google
• Keep your job search Organize your electronically by using software such as Google Drive, Asana or Trello

Try including these recommendations into your plans during the summer season, and you will have an excellent start over those who decide to take the summer easy. We hope you have an incredible summer and please let us know if you have questions below.​

​The mission of RE-Academy is to empower people from underserved communities, youth and disabled achieve economic self-sufficiency by providing a network of support, professional coaching, development tools and a confidence boost to help them thrive in work and life.​