The summer months can be a tough time to find a job. If you live anywhere on the East Coast you realize that our summers are short. It’s basically a 10-week span to take family vacations, play golf, go swimming, boating, camping, fishing, biking, etc. Did I leave anything out?
With so many people out, who’s holding down the fort? We still need to run the business, but things slow down during the summer months. The hiring manager may be out on vacation for a week or two and it can take longer than normal to screen resumes and schedule interviews. The interviewing process often involves several supervisors, and it becomes difficult to schedule job interviews when so many people are enjoying vacations.
When I worked for the Guthrie Clinic in Sayre, Pa. I learned many clinics struggle during the summer. The appointments drop significantly when physicians are on vacation. I was surprised when the administrators suggested staff defer vacation plans until fall or winter so they could see more patients in June, July and August.
It was an informal protest, but the doctors rallied together and said that deferring vacation plans was not an option. This is New York, folks. Our kids are out of school and the activities we enjoy require warm weather. They agreed to extend office hours in January, February and March, but don’t even think about messing with our summers.
Unfortunately, the people who are looking for work suffer when the hiring process slows down. Hiring activity doesn’t stop during the summer months, but you may need to adjust your strategy to deal with the inevitable delays.
The screening process that begins in Human Resources will be slower than usual. Even HR becomes frustrated because they refer job candidates to hiring managers, and resumes may sit on a supervisor’s desk for weeks before they return from vacation and begin the screening process.
Here are my suggestions for candidates impacted by excessive delays.
Don’t take it personal. The system sometimes grinds to a halt. All the candidates experience the same frustration. I’ve seen a few managers warn candidates the process may take longer than normal and your patience is appreciated.
If you have a personal interview, it’s reasonable to ask the hiring manager if there will be any delays. It can work to your advantage if you show empathy for the supervisor’s circumstances and say, “I realize there could be delays as a result of vacations so can you estimate when I can expect a response?” Patience and empathy are desirable attributes that can make you a more desirable candidate.
A busier social schedule during the summer months provides more opportunities to stay in touch with your network of friends and relatives. Keep in mind these are social events, but it’s reasonable to let your friends know you’re still looking for a job. Networking continues to be the most effective job search strategy. It’s critical to keep an active network that can support you.
A prime time for job hunting is September and October. In the slow summer months, you need to develop a job search strategy you will implement in September. Issues to consider include the following:
• Can you improve your resume?
• Make a list of the key companies you will contact. Who are the primary people in each company that are doing the hiring?
• If you don’t have a list of key people, this is the time to develop such a list.
• Is there anyone in your network who can help you identify these key people?
People who tell me they’ve mailed out a hundred resumes and are sitting home waiting for a response simply don’t get it. Summer is the prime time to develop a plan that you can implement on Sept. 1, when people return from vacation. I live in the Finger Lakes, and I plan on enjoying what has been a fantastic summer.
Use plenty of sunscreen and enjoy!
Bill Kaminski is president of Stone Associates Training. He is an HR consultant with 35 years of experience in the employment field, teaching managers the art of hiring great employees. Bill is also an adjunct instructor at Keuka College. You can contact Bill with questions, suggestions or comments at www.bill@stoneassociatestraining.com.
