How to use the summer break to kick start your job search

I'm starting to hear the rumblings already.

The ones that say that the job market is going to slow down over the summer months.

Admittedly, I'm generally hearing this from those people who are currently out of work, those whose full time role is finding a full time role.

But as many bonuses are landing into employee's bank accounts, I know that many people are starting to put their feelers out, especially if that long-promised promotion still hasn't materialised.

Here's some hints and tips about how to get started ??????

Get clear and get current

Get your house in order before you begin.

Think about the types of role that you would like to be considered for. Is this the same as it was when you started your search? Or, as your search has progressed, has your criteria changed?

Update your job application tracker, chase applications for roles that you may have already put yourself forward for, otherwise remove them from the list, all they do is take up head space.

If you would like to get your hand on my free tracker document, you can download it here .

Review Your CV

If you've been actively looking for a while but nothing has materialised, this is the perfect time to review your performance so far.

How well is your CV performing? Is it getting you invited to interview or does it go into some black hole, never to be seen again? If you know that your CV needs a revamp, get yourself a copy of my eBook, "How to Write Your Best Ever CV" so that it can show your experience, expertise and achievements in the best way possible.

What about your LinkedIn profile? This is your calling card and anyone will check you out on there before they get in touch with you. Is it reflecting your skills and experience? Are the right type of people connecting with you? What about your content, is it time to write an article that could help to highlight your skills and experience?

Get Interview Ready

If you were invited to an interview tomorrow, how prepared would you be?

Is your interview technique a bit rusty? Do you need some help to prepare the responses to your questions? Do you know what questions YOU are going to ask THEM?

If you know you need to get interview ready, I have another eBook called 27 Challenging Interview Questions (and how to answer them). You can download this and start getting interview ready!

Actively Network

Things slow down in Corporate life during August, time in people’s diaries gets freed up as regular meetings get cancelled and their colleagues are on holiday.? People are more open to having a coffee with you, just keep it light, don’t ask them for a job, ask them for advice, people love to give advice and may use the meeting as an excuse to slip out of the office themselves.

Send Speculative Applications

Again, as things slow down in Corporate Life, people may be much more open to not only read but also respond to a speculative approach.? What have you got to lose?

Read that book?

You know, the one that has been on your nightstand for months.?Job seekers in my network have found biographies and autobiographies of great leaders to be inspiring at this point in their lives, the chapters about overcoming adversity particularly resonate.?

Taking a break is of course the perfect time to catch up with a good book.

Write

Use this time to write a series of articles for LinkedIN or your own personal blog.? Once September comes around, you won’t be worried about having to figure out what to post as you will already have a library of compositions ready to go.?Writing articles is a great way to differentiate yourself from the competition, you never know who will see what you write and like or comment on it.?It also provides a platform for you to express your opinion on a variety of issues that may or may not be pertinent to your job search.?

How about writing a review of one of those books you have been reading??

Tackle a house project . . . or two . . . or?three

Physically go around the house and make a list of all those annoying little projects that need fixing and get them done.? Just think of the sense of accomplishment you will have when you have decluttered the garage so that you can actually park your car in there during the winter months!?

When you start a new job, all of these niggles will go to the bottom of any to-do list you may have, so make hay while the sun shines.?

Be kind to your future self

Get your head clear and get in control so that you are better able to deal with what September will throw at you:

• Get you email inbox to zero
• Archive all those applications you made in March that you still haven’t had a response to (you probably never will)
• Sort out the filing in your work space - shred what you don’t need and organise what you do, you will be surprised at how the amount of clutter around you can physically weigh you down
• Go through your diary - think about what you would like to have accomplished by Christmas and start to allocate time to achieving your goal??

I know this isn't everything, please share your hints and tips below and however you decide to spend your summer, I wish you well and hope that you enjoy. Jane.