There is an amazing phenomenon that occurs every year at this time-it is called "summer." And at the beginning of summer, just as certain as the sun rises and sets, it is guaranteed the price of gasoline will rise, millions of children will be paroled from school, and job seekers will get discouraged and stop looking for work.

As we tighten our belts to deal with gas prices and cope with the onslaught of children, so too must job seekers find a way to invigorate the search process.

There is a great misconception that companies stop hiring during the summer months. Not true-companies do hire. While there is a general slowdown in hiring, the process never stops. The smart job seeker can take advantage of having fewer competitors for positions because other job seekers have slacked off.

Let's explore some innovative and fun ways to make your summer search activities a success:

1. Summer is a great time for networking. Think about it for a moment; summer is filled with festivals, fairs, barbecues, garage sales, hiking, biking, camping, swimming, and endless other activities. And all the hiring managers are out there participating. Take advantage of these opportunities by using what I like to call the "Three-Foot Rule." Simply stated, talk to anyone who comes within three feet of you. You can easily begin with general chat about the event you are attending. Then always ask the question: "By the way, what is your business?" or, "What do you do for a living?" That question opens the door for awesome networking.

Here is a great summertime success story. One of my clients was having a garage sale and there was an individual checking out the used refrigerator for sale. My client thought: "Okay, I am going to use the three-foot rule." Here is the condensed version of what happened after a brief discussion about the refrigerator:

Job Seeker: "By the way, what do you do for a living?"
Customer: "I work at Mare Island Naval base as an engineering project manager."
Job Seeker: "That's interesting. I am a mechanical engineer. I recently left Aerojet as the result of government contract cutbacks."
Customer: "Really? It just so happens that I am looking for a mechanical engineer at Mare Island."

Three weeks later my client was working at Mare Island. It never would have happened if he hadn't turned the conversation toward work. When you attend those summer activities, don't just hang out with your friends. Seek out all the other participants and network like crazy.

2. Use multiple strategies to reach hiring managers. Here are some rapid-fire ideas:

a. Spice up your resume with visuals (graphs, tables, or charts that highlight your performance).

b. Target department heads with your resume . . . by mail or direct visit. Example: put your resume in a plain envelope. Write the department head's title on the envelope, such as "Accounting Manager." Then leave it with the receptionist.

c. Attend meetings of local industry trade associations. It is easy to register as a guest and is a great place to meet hiring managers.

Tie these in with your other strategies and you boost your chances of success.

3. Interviews during the summer can be very productive-frequently the company pace slows down. Therefore, your potential boss might find more time to spend with you in an interview. It's a great time to build that relationship and sell yourself.

The summer slowdown is very much like the slowdown during the December holidays. Not a lot of hiring activity, but the hiring managers are still doing a lot of looking. At the end of summer and the beginning of January, hiring takes off like a rocket. The wise job seeker has been hard at work pursuing opportunities during the summer months and will likely be first on the list when hiring accelerates in September.

When summer fades, gas prices start to go down and the kids' parole is revoked. If you have spent your summer wisely, maintaining a focused, intense job search, you will likely be starting a new opportunity.

---

Don Straits is recognized as a nationwide authority on contemporary job search strategies. His organization provides world-class outplacement and individual marketing services to senior level executives. Corporate Warriors has earned industry acclaim for its world-class multi-media resume portfolios. Don can be contacted at don@corporatewarriors.com or (916) 783-0860. Website: www.corporatewarriors.com.

Partner Center