Summer… Tis the season where things tend to slow down and most people are focused on taking advantage of the warmer weather instead of focusing on work and, particularly, job searching and hiring! So, it’s the perfect time for us to remind you of the importance of staying focused on your job search activities.

“Law firms don’t stop running because the weather has gotten nicer. In fact, business is good, and we are seeing an increase in postings and hiring activity,” said Daniel Lépine, President of Lépine Talent, a Canadian legal recruitment firm.

Here are a few things to consider:

1. The summer months tend to be the time of year where many organizations take stock of projects, budgets, and the overall state of the business. This means ensuring they understand the needs of the business and ensuring proper resourcing at all levels.
2. The hiring process may slow down with key hiring managers taking time off in the summer, but it does not stop. In fact, a more relaxed environment during these months allows hiring managers to spend more time filling key positions and focusing on important onboarding and training activities of new hires.
3. The availability of senior positions tends to increase at this time of year. Many senior positions include a bonus as part of their overall compensation package. These tend to get paid out in the first quarter of the year, which means employees will wait around to get their payout before leaving a position.

“In this day and age, people are used to a more flexible work/life balance,” says Lépine. “That means, even if they are at the cottage, they tend to be plugged in and answering emails or taking some time for a video call to interview top talent.”

So how do you make sure you continue making the most of your job search during the summer months? Here are a couple of tips.

1. Keep up with your search activities! Don’t assume hiring activity stops in the summer or you may miss out on an amazing opportunity.
2. Keep it professional! With more employees working from home, it’s easier to be more laid back and casual when it comes to our attire. While this may be fine for working away in your home office, it is still best practice to ensure you are in appropriate business attire during a virtual job interview.
3. Talk to a recruiter! Employers can receive thousands of applications that go through an automated system. That means your resume may never make it to human eyes. A recruiter who is focused on the industry on which you are focused can help ensure you are placed directly in front of hiring managers for consideration.
4. Be persistent! While things may slow down because of key people being on vacation, it is key to ensure you “check in” regularly. It shows that you are keenly interested in the position and that you can take initiative to go after something you want.
5. Don’t let social media foil your chances! Social media is often the place where we share some of our best – and not always totally professional – life adventures. While this is your personal space, many employers do check and can be swayed depending on the content.

“Rightly or wrongly, social media is out there and is part of what defines our image,” says Lépine. “My advice to job seekers is to clean it up or at least lock it down and make it private.”

Ultimately, your goal for the summer is to keep up your search and keep applying. Knowing that there can be thousands of applicants for certain jobs, it’s key to be persistent, to continue working your network and to reach out to recruiters. Covering all angles will get you to your desired job much quicker!

Lépine Talent is an innovative legal recruitment firm that helps put qualified candidates in front of the right hiring manager and that matches law firms and organizations with top talent. Our team is ready and willing to help. Reach out to us at info@lepinetalent.com.