Why Your Odds Are Better in the Summer to Land a Job
Everyone lives for the days of summer. The sun is shining, there are more activities to do, and people are extra relaxed and content. People generally seem to be happier and more social in the warmer months. It is a common belief that individuals equate the summertime with vacation time; so you probably think that looking for a job during the summer is not the best strategy. Well, change that mindset! According to a recent article, about 70% of jobseekers will abandon their job search over the summer.
So what does this mean for you? It means you are competing against a lot less applicants. The odds of landing that interview and showing them that you are the most qualified candidate increases dramatically. Employers are not inundated with the usual number of job applicants and therefore, will more than likely give your CV a longer look. This is especially helpful if you are a candidate that meets most (but not all) of the requirements of the position.
In fact, when recruiters and/or hiring managers come back from a vacation themselves, they feel refreshed. They have received the chance to decompress and escape from all of the demands of their job. With the summer months tending to be slower for most companies, there aren’t as many projects going on and thus the deadlines are much more manageable. This puts recruiters and hiring managers in a much better mood. They do not feel as pressed for time and will be able to spend more time reviewing a candidate’s credentials. As a result, the recruiters/hiring managers will usually take more risks when it comes to hiring.
You need to seize this opportunity! Take this time to land that dream job or to make a complete career change. You are more likely to have success!
Here are a few tips to get you ready for your summer job search:
1. Refresh that CV.
Make sure your CV is updated and that it highlights your accomplishments. You want to stand out against the competition. What makes you unique? Employers want someone who is going to be innovative and bring value to their company. Now is your time to brag about yourself and your career highlights! When in doubt about your CV, ask yourself, “If I picked up this CV off the floor, would I call the person”. In addition, have an objection third-party look it over and give you feedback. The most important point here is that your CV needs to be relevant, concise, and impactful.
2. Polish up your LinkedIn account.
Your LinkedIn Profile is just as important as your CV (it is important to note that a LinkedIn Summary is different than your CV Summary). Almost 94% of recruiters will look at your profile online before deciding if they want to bring you in for an interview. You definitely want to make sure you are exhibiting a professional tone on LinkedIn and your profile is as complete as you can make it. Make sure everything is filled out accordingly and that you do have a professional picture on there. If you want more tips on your LinkedIn photo, we have other articles here on Learnist to help you out with this topic. Please do not underestimate the power of LinkedIn and its role in your job search.
3. Network!
Let your connections know that you are looking for a job. The more people that know you are actively looking, the better. Nowadays, connections help you land the job or at least help you get your foot in the door for an interview. This is a critical step in your process. Many jobs aren’t even posted to the public. Therefore, it is extremely important to talk with your connections about any opportunities they know of in their company or that they might have heard of in passing. Your network is one the greatest, often untapped, resources.
4. Apply, apply, and apply.
You can’t get hired if you don’t apply. Look for jobs and read the requirements. If you think you match what they are looking for then throw your hat in the ring. A job search involves time and effort on your behalf. Treat the search like a job: make a plan, set aside time to do the work, and be consistent. The results will be worth the effort.
These four tips are critical to your job search any time of year. I know they sound simple yet they are so crucial to success. Sometimes it is the smallest tip that can make the greatest impact. You should “leave it all out on the field” as they say. Let the applying begin!
