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Summer isn’t the best time to search for a job. Since summers are usually dedicated to interns and seasonal hires, companies don’t hire as much permanent employees as they do during other seasons. In addition, HR departments have already spent their budgeted money in previous months. So what if you really need a new job this summer? How can you go about finding a good job during the summer hiring slowdown? We interviewed Ladders CEO Marc Cenedella to find out how to land a job during the summer.
Many jobs are never posted online. What are some tricks for finding hidden jobs during the summer months?
Searching the web for jobs is the most common application process, but there are other ways to find jobs you may be qualified for. Networking is an important practice to continue throughout your career, which you can use when needed. Ask colleagues from your past if their new jobs are hiring, or reach out to other professionals in your area at a local meetup and ask if they know of any openings. Keeping strong professional relationships helps in the event that you are searching for a new job.
How should people update their resumes this summer in order to make them stand out among the competition?
Your resume is a professional advertisement, targeted toward your future boss, with the goal of landing an interview for a job that you can succeed in. If you are a professional with less than 10 years of experience, try and keep your resume to one page. If you have more than 10 years of experience, 2-3 pages should be able to cover your work experience. If there’s one step to understand about getting your resume right, it’s this: your resume is not about you. It’s about the benefits your future boss gets from hiring you.
Should summer job searchers be open to working with recruiters? What are the advantages and disadvantages of going through a recruiting agency?
Not everyone considers using a recruiting agency to find a new job. For those who are truly ready for the next step in their career and feel they need to leave their current place of work immediately, they should consider all opportunities. Working with an agency would leave less of the work to you, but may not deliver the exact results you want.
Who should job seekers contact if they are interested in a job at a particular company? What is the best method of reaching out?
Reach out to recruiters and HR members at the companies that interest you. Sending a friendly email can take you further than you may think. Express your interest in the company and position and ask what some of the most important qualities they are looking for when it comes to the candidate who will fill the position.
What things should people look out for when researching a potential employer?
Finding the right match is different for everyone. Make a list of what is most important to you for your new role and make sure that the potential employer matches the needs you have. Not only should your new role include a positive company culture, the potential to grow and coworkers that support you, but it should also match your lifestyle needs.
Can you offer any interview tips specifically for summer job seekers?
In interviews, your four goals are to share the truth about working with you, to determine whether there’s a fit with the roles you consider, to be better prepared for your next interview and to generate job offers. Before going into the interview, ask the hiring manager “Which three things are most important to succeed in this role?” It’s important to ensure to the greatest extent possible, that there is a match between your qualities and your potential boss’s desires.