The summer job search is slow (until it isn’t)

First of all, hiring is happening. Rest assured that your effort isn’t wasted- there is no reason to wait to apply if you see an opportunity you’re interested in just because it is the summer. You should, however, adjust your expectations and put your effort where it matters most. 

The most important thing to remember is that a long process isn’t reflective of you as a candidate nor does it mean a company isn’t truly interested. Hiring cycles have gotten longer over the past few years as companies adjust from the post-pandemic hiring frenzy. If the process was long to begin with, expect it to take a bit of extra time in the summer. The hiring process involves many stakeholders, HR, talent acquisition, hiring managers, peers, and sometimes external agencies and vendors. Work isn’t always covered perfectly if someone is out. Be prepared to face some silences through the search. In an ideal world, companies will reach out to you with regular updates. However, communication can fall through the cracks. If you haven’t heard anything in a while, send a nice follow up note.

The golden rule of the job search applies despite the time of year you’re job searching: personal connections are the best way to find a role. This summer, work your network. Job board postings are passively monitored in the best of times, with companies forgetting to take down old listings or getting overwhelmed by the volume of applications they receive and not looking through them all. If you see a role posted that you’re interested in, your best bet is always some kind of internal connection. Go to the company’s LinkedIn page and look for an in. A previous colleague, a friend, even an alumni from an educational institution you attended. Tell them you applied for a role at the organization and would love to connect to learn more. Most people are happy to help. Best case scenario, they know someone and can help you out. Worst case scenario, they just don’t respond.

Another good way to work your network is to set up informational interviews. Look at people you’re connected to who have interesting roles or work at organizations you might like to work in and ask them to chat for 15 minutes. Come prepared with questions about their jobs, the organization, and a subtle pitch that you’re just exploring what’s next. You’ll learn more about different companies in your space and they might be able to connect you with someone who can help. In many industries, summer is a time when workloads are less demanding so your connections might have more free time to connect.

If you aren’t seeing many opportunities that interest you right now, don’t get too worried about it. Because the summer can be a slower time work-wise, many companies don’t prioritize new hiring until budgets are freed up and work speeds up in the fall. In the meantime, you should get ready to move come fall. Prep your resume, your LinkedIn, practice common interview questions in your industry, and network as much as you can. This way, you’re ready to hit the ground running when work starts picking up and companies start posting roles. 

The summer is also a good time to create your job search road map. Identify several different paths you’d be interested in and create a running list of job titles you come across. Research people with backgrounds similar to yours and see what kind of work they do. You can also create a list of target companies you’d like to work at and start to look for connections there. The more of this work you’ve done the clearer and more effective your job applications will be. When you know what you want, you’ll have an easier take pitching yourself for a role.

Don’t get discouraged, hiring will pick up. The transition from summer slowness to a fall hiring boost can be quick. Make sure you’re as prepared as you can be. Although a summer job search might be a bit slower, the same rules apply. Show up prepared, know what you want, and network, network, network.