Contrary to popular belief, the summer is a great time to get a new job. Sure, hiring managers go on vacation but that does not mean that all activity stops. Business goes on and plans for the fall often require new skills and more people.
Summer is rich with networking opportunities. A bunch of my friends did a big fund raising walk last week and there were a lot of corporate teams participating. It is not hard to pick out someone wearing a team jersey of one your most admired companies and strike up a conversation about walking shoes.
It’s safe to say you have more in common than just looming blisters.
And let’s not forget sports tournaments. Whether you are at a charity golf thing or your kid’s soccer tournament, you will be spending time with people you don’t know. These are prime opportunities to learn about new industries, companies and jobs.
If you meet someone interesting, jot down a couple of notes on your phone. When you get back to your regular life, find the person on LinkedIn and ask them to connect. Mention where you met in case they don’t remember.
The next time you see a job posted at their firm, you can hit them up for information.
Sometimes the conversation can turn serious pretty quickly. If you find yourself talking about your work and the person says “We should talk – give me a call on Monday”, then get their card and ask what time would be best. Do some research on the company and make the call.
Be ready. This stuff really happens. I cannot tell you how many times I have asked someone how they got their role and they start with “Well, it’s kind of a funny story…..”
Recruiter's Couch 