For some of you, the kids are done with school and so begins another week of their vacation but don’t let that interfere with your job search. Or maybe you are living back home after graduation. Here are some ways to keep your job search moving forward while you enjoy the summer months as well.
Get Out of Your House
As long as you are out side of your house, you will inevitably meet people! Be inquisitive. Before you confess you are in job search or your canned elevator speech, spend time learning about the new person you are meeting. Be other-focused!
Turn your trip to the beach/water park into an information gathering session
If you are headed out for the day or for a week, plan to meet new people and learn about what they do. Ask questions.
Organize a Reunion
If you are home from school, contact classmates from high school and college for a get together.
Take a Walk
Invite a friend, neighbor or new acquaintance for a walk (either outside or at the gym).
Barbeque Anyone?
This is the perfect time of year to gather friends, family and past colleagues to chill out and grill out! Money’s tight, so make it a BYOB and a invite them to bring a dish to pass.
Invite Others to an Event
Going to an outdoor concert, festival or other event? The more the merrier! Invite friends to go with you.
Remember: all of these activities offer you the opportunity to connect with people. Turn each of them into an information gathering session. It can be even more beneficial if you do a little research about some of your friends on LinkedIn to see who they know. You may even be able to identify some people they know that you would like an introduction to. And be sure to follow up after with your marketing plan/target list of companies so your contacts know what your are looking for and how they can help.
Please, please, please! Do not take the summer off from your job search. Find ways to convert your summer vacation into a productive job hunt!
Hannah Morgan speaks and writes about job search and career strategies. She founded CareerSherpa.net to educate professionals on how to maneuver through today’s job search process. Hannah was nominated as a LinkedIn Top Voice in Job Search and Careers and is a regular contributor to US News & World Report. She has been quoted by media outlets, including Forbes, USA Today, Money Magazine, Huffington Post, as well as many other publications. She is also author of The Infographic Resume and co-author of Social Networking for Business Success.
