Summer is here and as the temperature rises, people job hunting seems to go down, especially in the case of new graduates. However, according to Greg Pocherewny, a vice-president with Robert Half International, the summer is actually the best time to look for work.
"In the summer, there is a perceived notion that things slow down, that hiring managers take a vacation but opportunities are still there," said Pocherewny, in a telephone interview with Suite 101.com. He added that one should ramp up thier job search in the summer to give them a competitive edge as people do ease off in their job search during this time.
"In this economic slowdown, you need to differentiate against those going after the same job," Pocherewny noted. He suggested people contact friends, neighbors or any one in their network and let them know that they are searching for a job.
Advantages of Summer Job Hunting
While the pace of business during the summer may slowdown with people taking vacations, this time can also present opportunities as there is an increase demand for contract workers for vacation coverage. Pocherewny added that this gets their name out there and a competitive advantage when a full-time job becomes available within that organization.
Think of the Job Hunting as a Job
And even though the sun is shining outside, Pocherewny said people should think of job hunting as a full-time job in of itself and recommended setting-up a job search headquarters, an area of the home dedicated to the job hunt.
"Have a plan, set targets and goals for your job search. Understand what job you want, where to go to identify those opportunities, how many contacts you want to make in a week and work towards those goals," he suggested.
Another tip is to go through ones resume with a fine tooth comb as it has to be perfect in this job market. While some people can secure a job even with mistakes on their resume as employers will take what they can get, spelling and grammar errors can cost an opportunity to get in front of an employer.
Summer Job Hunt Not Just for New Grads
However, these tips aren't just reserved for new graduates looking for summer employment. "We've seen increase number of layoffs … people faced with a full-time job search that many have not been on the job market for a long time," said Pocherewny.
But is there something wrong with taking the summer off? Not all, Pocherewny said.
"But, it ties back to setting goals and targets for the job search. Anyone looking for a job, you never know when opportunities come up. It is competitive [out there], employers are being careful, it is important that you are networking and work towards your job seeking goal so if an opportunity comes up, you don't want to miss that opportunity," he added.
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