7 tips for managing your summer job search

With hiring managers and recruiters away on leave, hiring decisions can often be put on hold, but that doesn’t mean your job search needs to halt. Here are seven tips for managing your job search when it feels like everyone is away at the beach. 1. Take advantage of the slower pace. While hiring typically slows down during the summer, so do applications. Employers aren’t the only ones on vacation, candidates are too. So while there may be fewer jobs posted overall, you are likely to face less competition. 2. Summer is a great time to fix up your resume. Use the time you would spend on submitting job applications to give your CV an overhaul. That way, you’ll be ready to bite when hiring ramps up again. Watch Devex webinar ”Acing your application: Do’s and don’ts of CVs and cover letters” for tips on how to best present your skills. Or consider engaging one of our expert CV writers with the Devex CV Writing service. 3. Take a timeout for research. Spend this time researching potential employers that align with your skills, interests and values. (You can search career profiles of thousands of employers with a Devex Career Account). Set up job alerts on Devex so you will be notified as soon as they do have new postings. 4. Don’t wait for employers to post a job. Contact organizations that interest you proactively so you are already on a recruiter’s radar when they have new openings. Here are some tips for asking for an informational interview. 5. Set up a few informational interviews. With a lot of people out on vacation, those left behind with a lighter meeting load may have more flexibility for informational interviews, coffee or an after work drink. People in the summer are often calmer, happier and looking for excuses to get out of the office and into the sunshine. This is a great time to reach out to your network and see who is around. 6. Be patient. Hiring decisions can take longer to make during the summer. Often, there are multiple stakeholders who need to weigh in on a new hire. Juggling vacation schedules can make it challenging for employers to come to a consensus as quickly as when everyone is in the office. Be patient as you wait to hear back on your application status. 7. Take a break yourself. Looking for a job can often feel like a full-time job itself. Take a vacation — or if that isn’t financially feasible, just take a “mental break” for a few days. Use that time to re-evaluate your career goals and then come back to your search with a refreshed sense of purpose. How do you plan to keep your job search going during the summer and what advice do you have? Please share in the comments below. Whether you’re a seasoned expert or budding development professional — check out more news, analysis and advice online to guide your career and professional development, and subscribe to Doing Good to receive top international development career and recruitment news every week.