Have you caught wind of this month’s viral prediction? Experts are predicting the Great Resignation.
Post-pandemic, more people are clear about what they do and do not want from work and a vast percentage are considering quitting their jobs. Contrary to previous assumptions about the season, there may be opportunities this summer. This presents some challenges to how we normally think about landing a job in the summer months.
Myth: No one is interviewing in the summer
TRUTH: You must be patient with vacations and things taking longer, but interviews happen in the summer because companies want everyone running full steam with full teams come fall.
Also, since many believe this myth, you’ll have a better chance of cutting through the usual noise and getting attention.
MYTH: You’ve got all summer
TRUTH: No, you don’t. Summer is not necessarily June, July, and August. It varies across the United States depending on school schedules. Some states have kids out late May and going back in August. Others have kids out the end of June and going back after Labor Day. This determines vacations for most folks. Obviously, not everyone has school age children or children at all, but vacations usually follow these norms. Job seekers should think and plan accordingly.
Again, people want to fill openings to hit fourth quarter running so assume nothing and stay in action.
Myth: The pandemic is over
TRUTH: Things are looking good in the U.S., but remember we had lots of freedom last summer too. The real test will be how we fare in the fall as we head back indoors again. Will we be at herd immunity? Will the variants affect our freedom to move around?
It matters to landing a job only because of the chaos it causes. Therefore, another argument to use this summer wisely.
The Great Resignation has not yet come to fruition, but we see in our Now What?® community many people considering leaving their jobs. That creates opportunities as people move around. For those of you considering finding a better fit, stay in action identifying where you DO want to be and do let us know how we can help.
Dear Laura, thank you so much for this article. I turn 70 in September and wonder if finding a new full time position will actually be doable (for me) do to my age. I stayed way too long in a position I never really liked, or was ever acknowledged for what I brought to help this company thrive, and generate revenue. As an art director, I needed to get much more computer literate than I was and went to school at this position for that reason. The digital landscape in the graphic design / art /advertising business moved much faster than I was able to keep up with. It’s is not my passion and I am hopeful that working with you will set me on a straight course to move me out of a totally dead-end situation that has nothing to do with my creative talent, and depleting my joy for who I get to be.
Thank you Laura for sharing. Great information….it is summer somewhere!
Thanks Laura. I’m interested to understand the dynamics happening in the USA recruitment market – its rarely as simple as one ‘headline’. Here is Australia we have vacancies that sit for months on end – across blue and white collar- we are seeing scarce supply of candidates in some job types and therefore outrageous salary offers, as its a buyer’s market. My own experience in attempting to recruit is that it’s easier to secure temporary professionals than candidates looking for permanent roles…many having stepped away from their permanent roles to reassess what they wanted. Additionally in Australia, a dirth of jobs-work driven immigration is also having impact. This isn’t just a result of COVID, the latter was almost at tipping point before the COVID dynamic.