Helping Job Seekers Navigate a Successful Job Search in the Summer

navigate a successful job search in the summer

– By Lori A. Jazvac –

Summer is a crucial time for job seekers, as it’s not just a vacation season but also a period when employers actively seek talent to fill positions for the fall and winter. It’s a time ripe with opportunities that should not be overlooked.

As career professionals, we are pivotal in supporting job seekers aiming for a new career or role change in the summer. Our expertise in strategic planning, skill development, networking, and leveraging seasonal hiring trends can be instrumental in helping jobseekers navigate a successful job search during the summer in 12 critical ways.

Rebranding and Enhancing the Resume and LinkedIn Profile: The resume and the LinkedIn profile are two valuable pieces of brand marketing collateral that aim to help jobseekers search for work and stand out from the competition. Assist with optimizing resumes, cover letters, and LinkedIn profiles to highlight transferable skills and experience relevant to the client’s new career path. Career professionals can advise jobseekers to update their resumes and LinkedIn profiles to highlight relevant skills and achievements. Emphasize the importance of pertinent industry keywords that recruiters might search for. Ensure that resumes are customized, concise, compelling, and ATS-friendly.

Networking Opportunities: We can support job seekers in attending networking events, both online and in person, including industry conferences, meetups, or virtual networking groups. These opportunities can provide valuable connections and insights into job openings, making job seekers feel connected and supported in their job search. As career professionals, we can aid jobseekers in expanding their network in targeted industries through professional associations, online networking platforms like LinkedIn, and attending industry events.

Seasonal Job Postings: As career professionals, we can direct jobseekers to key job boards and company websites where summer-specific job openings are posted, such as Indeed.com, LinkedIn, and the Government of Canada websites. Highlight industries that typically hire more during the summer—the second quarter of the year, especially in the hospitality and tourism sectors.

Internships and Temporary Work: Recommend considering internships or temporary positions that can provide empowering experiences, networking opportunities, and potential future employment opportunities. Guide job seekers to follow seasonal hiring trends for industries and sectors that typically experience higher hiring rates during the summer. For instance, the retail sector often sees an increase in hiring for seasonal positions during the summer months. Canadians are taking on more temporary work than previously, with more people refining and adding their newly developed skills and expertise to their resume experience.

Skills Development: Suggest job seekers leverage the summer months to enhance their creative and technical skills through online courses, workshops, or certifications relevant to their desired field. This strategy can make them more competitive candidates. Assist job seekers in acquiring new skills or certifications relevant to their desired career change. A LinkedIn report indicated that 94% of employees would stay at a company longer if it invested in their career development (LinkedIn Learning Report).

Interview Preparation: Help students prepare for interviews in the summer by conducting mock interviews, providing constructive feedback on responses and potential challenges, and offering advice on appropriate attire and demeanour.

Remote Work Opportunities: Highlight remote work options, which may be more common during the summer due to vacations and flexible work policies. Advise on how to search for and secure remote positions effectively. Remote work sites such as FlexJobs and other links may help.

Utilizing Social Media: Guide job seekers on using social media platforms effectively for job searching, including leveraging professional networks like LinkedIn and participating in relevant industry groups. The LinkedIn profile is usually one of the first places an employer, recruiter, or hiring manager will tend to review to learn more about the candidate and their fit for the targeted role.

Staying Persistent and Positive: We should encourage jobseekers to stay persistent in their search despite potentially slower hiring periods in the summer. By maintaining a positive attitude and beating emotional lows throughout the job search process, job seekers can feel resilient and hopeful, which can drive better results.

Customizing Job Search Strategies: Help job seekers tailor their job search strategies to their specific goals and circumstances, considering factors such as location preferences, industry focus, and career stage that ensure the client’s job or career satisfaction and alignment.

Career Assessment and Planning: Conduct detailed career assessments to identify transferable skills and suitable career paths. The latest CareerBuilder survey indicates that only 52% of employed adults are content in their positions.

Mentoring and Coaching: Provide ongoing support, advice, and encouragement to jobseekers in navigating the challenges of a career change. Mentoring has been shown to elevate job satisfaction, loyalty, and retention rates among employees.

By guiding in these areas, career professionals can help job seekers navigate a successful job search and make the most of their summer job search efforts while increasing their chances of landing a fulfilling position. For more information, consider enrolling in CPC’s summer certification programs and courses, which will help better position your clients for their next career move before fall approaches. Top of Form

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