‘Dog Days’ of Summer Good Time for Go-getters

By: Susan K. Maciak, Contributor

Author / Consultant Susan K. Maciak leads her own company, CAMEO Career & Corporate Consulting LLC, along with publishing career-related books. To view CAMEO’s career and corporate services or find out about Maciak’s self-help books, go to: www.cameocareer.com.

The laziest time of year — from mid-July through August — could be the best time to start a job search. It’s the hottest, driest spell of summer, and the weather never seems to change. Swimmers begin to abandon beaches that breed more bacteria in the intense heat, and students start quitting their summer jobs to go back to school. It’s a good time for go-getters to find work.

Thousands of jobs open, as scholars resign in time for late summer vacations or relaxing breaks before hitting the books again. August is prime time for retirees looking for part-time jobs, stay-at-home moms easing their way back into the workforce, college grads and professionals in all fields who are ready to replace summer interns.

Employers often get spoiled by their seasonal help and decide to replace high school and college students who have taken up some of the slack over their school vacation. The key to landing new jobs that open with back-to-school vacancies: Start early.

Don’t wait until Labor Day. And don’t wait for jobs to be posted. In late July or early August send clever cover letters, along with copies of your resume, to companies and organizations that hire summer help. Offer to fill in for effective seasonal employees who worked in your area of expertise.

Advertising or public relations departments will soon realize that they could be more creative when summer under-studies took on routine writing assignments, bulk mailings or special projects. Managers will understand how good it’s been to have administrative assistants handle some of their paperwork, and health-care workers will readily acknowledge that they can serve patients better with more helpful hands in the hospital. Take advantage of their late-summer insight and find a job by filling a need.