Summer: Not the time to slack off

Since we were in school, summer has been associated with vacations, lazy days and a small break from life. Because of this association, people often forget that's not how it works in the real world.

While workers do take vacations during the summer months, most people are only allowed a few weeks of vacation time. The rest of the summer is business as usual, as employers gear up for the busy fall and winter.

"If a company has an immediate need for someone, they'll fill the position now instead of waiting until the fall," says Eileen Javers, global leader of transition practices for Right Management, a provider of integrated consulting solutions for employment. If you wait, you'll miss out on these jobs, as well as on the chances of getting ahead of the rest to be considered for interviews in the fall, she adds.

Javers offers this advice for job-hunting this summer:

• Do at least one proactive thing per day, such as calling an old teacher or coach for a networking meeting.
• Use the time others consider 'down time' to sharpen your job-search skills, get ahead of the competition and be better positioned for any suitable openings that occur now and in the near future.
• Refine your interviewing skills by practicing in front of a video camera
• Network with people you meet on vacation and at summertime activities like picnics, barbecues and beach parties.

Comments

[David Jobs Bournemouth Agency]

Its always about balance with these kinds of things, people need down time, the key is allotting time to do your own things for a few days and then use a couple of your days focussing on the area you want to find work and speaking either directly with the businesses themselves or researching skills that would be necessary for your particular job.