Candidates too will often say they are abandoning or postponing their job search until autumn, in the belief that there are no jobs around over August.
But these organisations and candidates are missing an opportunity.
Contrary to the – albeit widely-held – perception, summer presents a great opportunity for recruitment and job hunting; when it comes to manager and director-level roles we’d go so far as to say it’s one of the best times to find or fill a role. And here’s why:
As a hiring manager or director, you probably have fewer meetings and deadlines over summer – with clients and colleagues taking leave, your schedule is likely to be quieter and more flexible. This allows you more time to screen CVs, interview candidates and concentrate on finding the people that are right for the role.
It also means you’ll have more time to consider and strengthen your employer brand, review the employee benefits you offer and ascertain which skills are most critically needed within the business. These are all things we’re pleased to be able to help organisations with throughout the year, but in summer we find clients have more space to really get to the heart of these important issues.
So, even if you’re not actively recruiting, the summer can be a great time to get the groundwork done so you can get a head start in the autumn.
If you’re a prospective candidate looking to move on to a new role, or are at least open to the possibility, summer is also a timely opportunity to make a start. With holidays relieving the pressure at work, you’ll have more downtime to reflect, explore your options and attend meetings and interviews. It’s also an ideal time to refresh your CV and brush up on your interviewing skills – both steps we are able to coach candidates through.
For us as recruiters, summer is a fantastic time to meet prospective candidates for coffee and really get to know them so we can understand which role and organisational culture they will be best suited to.
As many organisations operate on the belief that it’s not worth advertising a post until September or October even, as an employer you’re less likely to be in competition for talent and more likely to secure the person or people you need. And you won’t have the same pressure of rushing or be at great a risk of candidates being presented with counter-offers. In many ways, this makes the investment in recruitment over summer a more worthwhile one.
Likewise, as a job seeker, you have a greater opportunity to stand out amongst a smaller pool of candidates, with hiring managers better positioned to give your application the time and credit it deserves. Keeping up a commitment to your job search throughout summer will ensure you are able to take advantage of opportunities when they arise.
The majority of highly skilled candidates usually aren’t actively job seeking; rather they are often hidden in the recruitment process. While many of them are in secure roles, it’s been suggested that some 86% of candidates are receptive to hearing about job opportunities. Yet 90% of recruiters only focus on candidates who are actively on the look-out for new roles.
The reason it’s even more important to tap into the passive job seeker market over summer is because, as Lou Adler says in 8 steps for turning passive prospects into eager candidates, “passive prospects need to be convinced that the first conversation is worth their time investment.” And as we’ve mentioned, over summer those prospects will have more time to give. When business returns to normal in September, it will probably be more challenging to reach them.
At Sitka, we offer a comprehensive recruitment search that blends traditional and head-hunting techniques to reach these passive candidates because we find it vastly increases the pool of high quality talent that clients have to choose from. You can read more about why it’s so important to prioritise passive candidates in our Business News Wales article.
For candidates too, the fact that recruiters often have more time means they’re more receptive, more attentive, and better able to connect with. Summer alone generally makes most people this way! And of course, once you establish a connection with a recruiter or hiring manager, you’re in a much better position to secure your perfect role.
If you want to take advantage of the summer to recruit leading talent, or you’re a qualified or aspiring manager or director considering your next role, please get in touch.
The experience of working with Sitka has been fantastic. They provide an excellent service with a professional and friendly approach. Karen kept me informed every step of the way, even sending through interview technique tips.
Ita took the time to ask about our business, our culture, the role and really understood what we were looking for. This resulted in a really straightforward recruitment process. All of the candidates put forward were of exceptional quality and I would definitely recommend Sitka to my colleagues and network.
We liked Karen’s personal approach to finding the best candidate. She spoke to them in depth, matching the person to the business and vice versa, rather than just advertising the role to an existing database of job seekers. The process was very efficient and well-communicated from start to finish.
I was recommended Sitka by a mutual contact who thought Karen and Ita would understand our requirements and our organisation. I met with them and I definitely felt they were the right agency for us. The recruitment process was seamless, they made it very easy for me.
In all honesty I don’t think there was anything Sitka could have done differently. It was a time when we were struggling to get any applicants for various reasons. To find someone as good as we did is testament to the hard work Karen put in. We would never have found that candidate if we hadn’t used an agency like Sitka and Karen.
The recruitment process was seamless. From our initial meeting, when we thought we wanted a certain person, Ita guided us through the type of person we needed initially, and who we would ideally like to recruit for the development of the business. She found us both in quick succession.
Ita’s communication skills are second to none. She kept us informed at every step. I would definitely recommend Sitka.