5 Tips For a Successful Summer Job Search

It might seem like summer is the worst possible time to be on the job hunt: company hours are often curtailed on Fridays and any resume you send may seem destined for a disappointingly speedy reply from an automatic, out-of-office vacation response.

But not all is lost on these long, summer days. Ivy Exec has these tips for how to make this time of year productive and successful.

5 Tips for a Successful Summer Job Search

1. Take advantage of timing

Most job seekers will see the summer as wasted time and fail to take full advantage of their hunt for employment. This misconception can actually work in your favor and whittle down the competition for you. Keep in mind, when a company has an opening for a job, hiring managers don’t care what time of year it is—they just know that they have a role to be filled ASAP. If you’re constantly working your contacts and searching for roles at the companies you want to work for, you’ll hear about that opening first and be able to seize the opportunity while your fellow job seekers wait for another time of year.

2. Networking never ends

You’re only as good as your network so don’t let it go fallow between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Many cities offer informal, outdoor happy hours in the summer that are frequented by professionals after work. Ask your connections if you can tag along to meet their coworkers and colleagues to get your name out there in a fun, social setting. You may also find that your university’s alumni group is particularly active in the summer months with outings to baseball games and other events. These face-to-face interactions can be much more valuable than following your alumni message board so get out there!

Also read: Straight From an Expert: Tips for Building a Great Professional Network

3. Do your homework

The summer may provide you with valuable time to do research on companies that you think are right for you. Sites like Ivy Exec offer a wealth of candid information from current and former employees at companies around the world. You may find that an overlooked company is actually a hidden gem according to its employees. Or, conversely, you may find that your dream company is a hotbed of employee dissatisfaction.

At the same time as you conduct your research on the companies you with to target with your resume, do some research on yourself. Google your name: are you happy with the results that prospective employers will find first? Update your LinkedIn profile and see if there are any connections you’ve overlooked. Tidy up your resume and any portfolios of your work, when relevant. There’s always room for improvement.

4. Make contact

A company does not need to be actively hiring for you to get your foot in the door. An informational interview can pave the way for future employment if you play your cards right. You may even find that a summer slow down gives hiring managers more time to meet you for coffee or even a more formal discussion of what you could offer their team. But whatever you do, go into these meetings prepared. Just because there is not a job currently open within your skill-set does not mean that you should take the opportunity for an informational interview lightly. If anything, preparing for an informational interview can be more work than getting ready for an actual job interview because you don’t have a specific position to pitch your skills for. Instead, come armed with insightful questions and plenty of ideas for fresh initiatives the company could launch successfully under your guidance.

Also read: The Truth About Using Informational Interviews to Land a Job

5. Be patient

Hurry up and wait may seem to be your summer job hunt motto. Even if you do find a job posting that’s right up your alley, prepare for longer wait times to hear back: the hiring team may be working overtime but the boss who needs to actually interview candidates may be on vacation. Don’t be a pest if it seems like it’s taking an unusually long time to hear back and give the hiring team a little extra wiggle room before initiating a polite follow up note. Of course it’s easy to get discouraged on the job hunt at any time of year—particularly when the job boards seem to show only slim pickings. But making use of your time no matter the season is what will separate you from the competition.