Challenges of Getting a Job During Summer Break: How to Stay Motivated Even Though Employers Have “Checked Out”

• 6/18/2018 6:49:23 PM
• 207
• Michel Gunn

This is the typical summer-break job hunting scenario:

There are times when employers tend to have more interest in their staffing. A month before the weather turns hot in the North East isn’t that time, unfortunately.  If you find yourself in this situation, you need to remember that your employers are most likely not trying to send you the wrong message. You probably just got caught in the “stack of papers”  that is not high-priority at the moment

Time to empathize with your employer:

Put yourself in their shoes. They have most likely been going guns-a-blazin since Jan 1, meeting project and sales goals…and now the spring buds have sprung and they are switching into ‘coasting mode’ until their vacations.
 
So, what are you to do? DON’T SLACK. Start working on your longer game. Pretend you have the job.

What do I mean by this? 

1. Think FALL GOALS – Look at your list of prospective employers and assess whether you would be a great fit for them. 
   (YOU SHOULD READ THIS. IT WORKS – TESTED and PROVEN.)
2. Pick an Employer that is your TOP CHOICE and pretend you have been hired. Then, follow these steps:

• Formulate what you would do to contribute to their business to make it grow.
• Put together a project that you would create and implement. Start working on the project as if you were employed. 
  1. Put together the CONCEPT AND GOAL of the project,
  2. Put together the list of resources you’d need,
  3. Put together the punch list for implementation of the project,
  4. If the project requires a team to implement, put together their punch lists.
• DEMONSTRATE YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND SUITABILITY FOR THE JOB. You can do this by creating a list of  actionables that can be implemented immediately upon hiring. 
• KEEP FOCUSED by going back to the CONCEPT AND GOAL mentioned above. Keeping focused is the hardest thing to do when you don’t have a MUSE, such as an employer or a place of employment with a brand and parameters that define work. So, find triggers that will motivate you to stay focused.

For more on coaching and helping through this process from Vermilion click here

A few examples of how you can use these tips in your industry:

Example #1: If you are trying to get into Real Estate, come up with your pitch. Remember, competition is tough, so BE INNOVATIVE and find your edge. For example, you can start a blog like “Homes in New York that have never lost electricity” …anything to make you stand out.  

Example #2:  You are trying to get a job as a salesperson in the Wholesale Diamond industry. Think of ways you can reach people with information they don’t already have. Then use instagram to generate a buzz with great visuals about information such as “how diamonds are cut to give them their shine”.

Example #3: You are trying to get back into event planning after a 15-year break. You definitely learned new things during your break, so, show how they can add value in the corporate world. For example, create a concept on “picnic in the winter for your holiday party”.

REMEMBER, CORPORATE PLAYERS ARE PEOPLE TOO. They will want to understand your decision to come back after your time away, so give your come-back a fresh spin and put it into perspective for them. Make them see how your time off work makes you a valuable person.
 
 What will ‘Pretending You Have the Job’ do? 
  

1. This will give you actual CONTENT to speak about.  That is, you will effectively shift  the conversation from about you and your unemployment to about YOUR IDEAS and KNOWLEDGE for enhancing the company.

 

2. You will be able to write about your subject matter on employment blogs like Linkedin, which also serves as a reference when speaking to potential employers about ideas.

 

3. In addition, it will give you a better opening line for your emails to potential employers. No longer will you be asking them if they have made a decision, (employers rarely answer such questions...), but you will be asking them questions that INSPIRE a thought path. This will in turn gain their respect and acknowledgement.

 
Here is an example of how You could frame your emails:

“Hi Jack/Jane,
I’ve been watching the tactics in play on the _________ selling, and think it could be used more like this __________.  I was wondering about your thoughts on the matter. I’m sure you’re busy and things are probably entering the summer slowdown for decisions, but I’ll be formulating some ideas to discuss when you are able to sit down and talk about your needs in the role of __________.
 
REMEMBER, as demonstrated in this email:
GIVE IDEAS. The employer wants to hire someone who is going to make them look good and inspire them with ideas or better ways of doing tasks. 
INSPIRE, and EMPATHIZE.  Again, put yourself in the employer’s shoes.
 
Bottom line: Follow this guide and it will serve to give you the right balance of enthusiasm and interest, and hide the anxiety of seeking a job while it is “quiet”.
 
I hope this has helped you.  Please let me know so I can address things I hadn’t known you were going through.

Michel Gunn is CEO of Gunn Multimedia Partners, Inc.. Gunn describes herself as the 'easy to talk to' woman owner of a 15-year-old marketing agency specializing in 'Small Business Lead Generation Tools' such as Interactive Websites, Social Media Blogging and Advertising, and Copy/Content Creation which historically has enabled growth for $5Mm - $10M volume Businesses in the amount of 20%+ annually. She is also an animal lover.