Why Summer Is the Best Time To Plot a Career Move

SMITH BRAIN TRUST – It’s the lazy days of summer. And in many offices, deadlines, projects and even hiring will face delays, stalled by the vacation days of key stakeholders. It seems like an inopportune time to be looking for a new job. Right?

No, it’s always a good time to look for your next opportunity, says Rachel Loock, a career and leadership coach with the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business Executive MBA program. While everyone else is relaxing at the pool and hitting the beach, use this time to get ahead, Loock advises.

“Don’t just stop the job search for three months,” she says. “There’s always something that can be done. Even if you aren’t actively interviewing and recognize that it may slow down some, there are still opportunities.”

Summer slowdown? Even though the conventional wisdom is that hiring slows in the summer – and it does to some extent – there are still just-in-time positions that need to be filled, says Loock. Keep tabs on new postings and be ready to apply, she says. You might find there is less competition for great jobs. Plus, keeping an active job search going throughout the summer will put you ahead of the pack when fall rolls around.

Much-needed R&R. Research and resume, that is. Summer can be a great time to update your resume and LinkedIn profile, and to do the research for your job search. Research and explore companies that might be a good fit. That could mean reconnecting with old colleagues now working at organizations on your target list. You can be working on that during the summer, then be in a good place to start sending out resumes and hit the ground running come September, says Loock.

Vacation mode. If you’re not actively searching for a job, vacations can be a good time to reflect on your career goals. A getaway can offer the perfect time to do some deep thinking, like when you’re driving or flying to a destination or relaxing once you get there. Figure out where you want to be in a year and lay the groundwork.

Don’t completely check out. If you are in active job-search mode this summer, be sure to provide a phone number and an actively monitored email address where a potential employer can reach you. You’ll have the opportunity to schedule an interview for after you return from your trip.

If you land a new job this summer (congrats!), but have a vacation already scheduled, be upfront about it, says Loock. Employers are generally open and flexible if you have had a trip planned and you tell them right away.